FlightGear has been and will always be freely available at no cost. However, despite being completely volunteer-driven, a project like ours cannot run without financial aids.

So far, these have been generously funded by individual developers and through LiberaPay donations for the scenery server and MPMap03. With an upcoming increase in scenery size and a growing user base, we would like to expand the possibility for anyone to make an entirely optional donation.

We have chosen the OpenCollective platform to outsource the administration and accounting tasks. This open source platform is used by projects around the world to accept donations and reimburse members for costs incurred for the benefit of the project. It enables us to be completely transparent about our budget and how donations are spent.

How can I donate?

Go to FlightGear.org/donate. You can choose between a one-time, monthly or yearly donation. Note that you can cancel recurring donations at any time. The platform accepts donations in many currencies and through credit/debit cards, PayPal or bank transfers.

What will donations be used for?

Initially we will be prioritising infrastructure hardware and services, such as the domain name, download mirrors and content delivery network (CDN). If donations exceed expectations, we may expand the scope at some point.

We will not pay invidual developers and other contributors for their work.

Take a look at the overview of expenses to see how the budget is being spent.

Do I get anything in return for my donation?

Your donation helps us safeguard the free availability of FlightGear. Making a donation does not entitle you to priority support, access to additional content, or any other special features. You can download and use FlightGear without donating.

Are there other ways to support the project?

Absolutely! Take a look at our contribute page for ideas on how you can contribute your time and skills.