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Mastering Flight Simulator Automation: A Complete Guide to FSUIPC and Python

Unlocking Flight Simulator Data: A Deep Dive into FSUIPC and Python

For serious flight simulation enthusiasts, moving beyond the joystick and keyboard is a rite of passage. Whether you want to build a custom cockpit instrument panel, log flight data for analysis, or create a sophisticated auto-pilot script, you need a way to reach deep into the simulator’s internal data. This is where FSUIPC (Flight Simulator Universal Inter-process Communication) becomes invaluable. And when you pair it with Python, one of the world’s most accessible and powerful programming languages, you unlock near-limitless potential for automation, data extraction, and hardware integration.

This article explores what FSUIPC is, why Python is an ideal partner for it, and how you can get started reading and writing simulator data.

Step 2: Basic Connection Script

Let's create a script that connects to the simulator and reads your current Altitude and Speed. fsuipc python

Create a file named read_data.py:

import fsuipc
import time

def main():
# 1. Establish connection with FSUIPC
# FSUIPC must be running and the Sim must be active
try:
fsuipc_client = fsuipc.FSUIPC()
print("Connected to FSUIPC successfully!")
except Exception as e:
print(f"Failed to connect: e")
return Mastering Flight Simulator Automation: A Complete Guide to


try:
    # 2. Prepare read requests
    # We create a list of data we want to read.
    # format: (Offset, Type)
# Offset 0x0570: Altitude (in meters, as a double/float64)
    # Offset 0x02BC: Airspeed (in knots, as an int32)
    # Note: 'd' = double (8 bytes), 'l' = long/int (4 bytes)
# You can chain prepare() calls or pass them in a list.
    # Here we use 'd' for double precision altitude
    # and 'H' for unsigned short (2 bytes) just to demonstrate types.
    # Let's use standard documented types for this example:
# Altitude: Offset 0x6020 is often easier (Ground Alt), but let's use standard 0x0570
    # 0x0570 is 8 bytes (double)
    data = fsuipc_client.prepare([
        (0x0570, 'd'), # Altitude
        (0x02BC, 'l')  # Airspeed
    ])
# 3. Read the data loop
    print("Reading data... Press Ctrl+C to stop.")
    while True:
        # .read() executes the query and returns a tuple of results
        altitude, airspeed = fsuipc_client.read()
# Altitude from 0x0570 is in meters. Convert to feet.
        altitude_ft = altitude * 3.28084
print(f"Altitude: altitude_ft:.2f ft | Airspeed: airspeed kts")
time.sleep(1) # Wait 1 second before reading again
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("\nStopping...")
finally:
    # 4. Close connection
    fsuipc_client.close()
    print("Connection closed.")



if name == "main":
main()

Part 3: Understanding Offsets – The Heart of FSUIPC

FSUIPC communicates via offsets – memory addresses within the simulator process. Each offset corresponds to a specific variable.

| Offset | Size | Description | Example | |--------|------|-------------|---------| | 0x0B70 | 2 | Indicated airspeed (knots) * 128 | 250 knots → 32000 | | 0x0574 | 4 | Latitude (degrees * 1e7) | 40.7128° → 407128000 | | 0x0578 | 4 | Longitude (degrees * 1e7) | -74.0060° → -740060000 | | 0x07D0 | 4 | Autopilot altitude target (meters) | 3000 m | | 0x07DC | 2 | Autopilot master (0=off, 1=on) | 1 | | 0x0CD8 | 4 | Engine fuel flow (pounds/hour) | 2500 | if name == " main ": main()

A complete offset list is available in the FSUIPC for Programmers.pdf provided with FSUIPC.

Basic usage pattern (pseudo-code)

Example (conceptual):

from fsuipc import FSUIPC
with FSUIPC() as ipc:
    # read an offset
    airspeed = ipc.read_offset(offset_id_for_airspeed, data_type)
    # write a control/event
    ipc.write_event(event_id_for_landing_gear_toggle)