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Aviation · head to head

L3Harris Technologies Aviation vs X-Plane 12

L3Harris Technologies Aviation logo

L3Harris Technologies Aviation

Aviation

Advanced aerospace and defense technology solutions

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
X-Plane 12 logo

X-Plane 12

Aviation

Professional flight simulation software

From
$59.99/lifetime
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: L3Harris Technologies Aviation no pricing published; requires direct contact with L3Harris; X-Plane 12 commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • They diverge on capability: L3Harris Technologies Aviation covers Avionics, X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which L3Harris Technologies Aviation and X-Plane 12 actually diverge.

Attributes where L3Harris Technologies Aviation and X-Plane 12 differ
AttributeL3Harris Technologies AviationX-Plane 12
Starting priceOn request$59.99/lifetime
Pricing modelquoteone-time
PlatformsHardware, EmbeddedWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20191995

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Aviation).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in L3Harris Technologies Aviation

  • Avionics
  • Communication
  • Training systems
  • Flight management
  • Navigation
  • Aircraft systems
  • Government standards
  • Military systems

Only in X-Plane 12

  • Flight physics
  • Global scenery
  • Realistic aircraft
  • Weather simulation
  • ATC system
  • Plugins
  • Add-ons
  • VR headsets

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

L3Harris Technologies Aviation

  • Aircraft systemsnot X-Plane 12
  • Military trainingnot X-Plane 12
  • Government operationsnot X-Plane 12
  • Custom solutionsnot X-Plane 12

X-Plane 12

  • Flight simulation for private pilots and enthusiastsnot L3Harris Technologies Aviation
  • Procedure practice and aircraft familiarisationnot L3Harris Technologies Aviation

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

L3Harris Technologies Aviation

  • No pricing published; requires direct contact with L3Harris

X-Plane 12

  • Commercial and professional use requires a separate licence at $1,000, against $59.99 for the personal digital download
  • The personal edition therefore cannot be used for paid training or commercial simulation
  • The professional edition is a distinct product rather than an upgrade path

Pricing, plan by plan

L3Harris Technologies Aviation

On request
  • Aviation SolutionsFree
    • Avionics systems
    • Training solutions
    • Communication systems

X-Plane 12

$59.99/lifetime
  • X-Plane 12$59.99/lifetime
    • Full simulator
    • Global scenery
    • Realistic physics

Which should you pick?

Choose L3Harris Technologies Aviation if

  • You need avionics.
  • You work on Hardware, Embedded.
  • You also want communication.
L3Harris Technologies Aviation review

Choose X-Plane 12 if

  • You need flight physics.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want global scenery.
X-Plane 12 review

Questions people ask

Is L3Harris Technologies Aviation or X-Plane 12 better?
Neither clearly leads. L3Harris Technologies Aviation starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, L3Harris Technologies Aviation or X-Plane 12?
L3Harris Technologies Aviation starts at On request and X-Plane 12 at $59.99/lifetime.
Does L3Harris Technologies Aviation or X-Plane 12 run on more platforms?
L3Harris Technologies Aviation runs on Hardware, Embedded. X-Plane 12 runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
What is L3Harris Technologies Aviation best used for?
L3Harris Technologies Aviation is most often used for aircraft systems, military training, government operations, custom solutions. Of those, aircraft systems and military training are not what X-Plane 12 is typically brought in for.
What can L3Harris Technologies Aviation do that X-Plane 12 cannot?
L3Harris Technologies Aviation covers Avionics, Communication, Training systems, Flight management. X-Plane 12 covers Flight physics, Global scenery, Realistic aircraft, Weather simulation.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

L3Harris Technologies Aviation: How much does L3Harris aviation software cost?

L3Harris Technologies does not publish pricing on their main website. Contact L3Harris directly through their website contact options or reach out to a sales representative for specific product pricing.

Source
X-Plane 12: How much does X-Plane 12 Personal Edition cost?

X-Plane 12 Personal Edition is priced at $59.99 for digital download, the same price on Steam, or $99.99 for the DVD set.

Source
X-Plane 12: What is the pricing difference for professional use of X-Plane 12?

Professional-use versions are significantly more expensive, ranging from $1,000 for digital downloads to $1,250 for USB keys.

Source
X-Plane 12: How do I activate X-Plane 12 after purchasing the digital download?

When you purchase the digital download edition, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to use and activate X-Plane 12.

Source
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