IFR-1 Flight Controller Plugin for X-Plane 12 on Linux

Copyright 2026 Kyle D. Ross See LICENSE for details.

Disclaimer

This software is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by Octavi GmbH or Laminar Research. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used herein for reference only.

What is this?

IFR-1 Flight Controller Plugin is a native X-Plane plugin that integrates the Octavi IFR-1 hardware controller with X-Plane 12 on Linux.

Unlike other plugins, IFR-1 Flight Controller Plugin is designed for maximum flexibility. It uses a JSON-based configuration system that allows you to map hardware events (knob rotations, button presses) to any X-Plane command or dataref. This means you can easily customize the controller for any aircraft, even those with complex custom systems, without writing any code.

Why not Windows or Mac?

There are already well-established plugins for Windows that provide similar functionality. See the IFR-1's webpage at https://www.octavi.net/ for more information. As for Mac, I simply don't have the hardware to test it on. It may work, but I can't guarantee it.

Your support is appreciated

Writing good quality software takes time and tools. If you find this plugin helpful, please consider supporting the project at https://buymeacoffee.com/kyledross. Any contribution to help defray costs is greatly appreciated.

Features

• Native Performance: Written in C++ as a native X-Plane plugin for low latency and high reliability.
• Flexible JSON Configuration: Define your own button mappings and LED logic in simple JSON files.
• Per-Aircraft Support: The plugin automatically loads the correct configuration based on the aircraft you are flying.
• Shifted States: Supports a "shifted" state (toggled via long-press on the inner knob) to double the available controls in each mode.
• Dynamic LED Feedback: LEDs are driven by aircraft state (datarefs), allowing for accurate status displays even for third-party aircraft.
• Expandable: Add support for any new aircraft by simply dropping a new JSON file into the configs folder.

Requirements

Software

• X-Plane 12.x on Linux (tested on X-Plane 12.3 running on Fedora 13, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and Debian 13)

Hardware

• Octavi IFR-1 USB controller

Quick Start (Recommended)

The easiest way to install the plugin is to use the provided installation script.

1. Download the Plugin

Download the latest release from the GitHub Releases page. Download the ifr-1_plugin_Linux_Install.tar.gz (or similarly named) archive.

2. Unpack the Plugin

Extract the downloaded archive to a temporary directory.

tar -xzf ifr-1_plugin_Linux_Install.tar.gz

3. Install the Plugin

Disconnect your IFR-1 device, then run the installation script from the extracted directory:

./install.sh

The script will:

• Locate your X-Plane installation automatically.
• Copy the plugin and default configurations to the correct location.
• Set up necessary udev rules so the plugin can communicate with the hardware without root permissions.

4. Start X-Plane

After the installation is finished, connect your IFR-1 device and launch X-Plane 12. The plugin will automatically detect your hardware and load the appropriate configuration for your aircraft.

Updates

To update to a newer version, simply download the new release and run the install.sh script again. It will replace the existing plugin and update the default configurations.

Aircraft Support

The plugin comes with pre-configured support for several aircraft:

• General Aviation (G1000): Optimized for aircraft like the Cessna 172 G1000 and Cirrus SR22.
• General Aviation (G430/G530): For aircraft using standard Garmin 430/530 units.
• Beechcraft King Air/Baron: Tailored for the default Beechcraft models.
• McDonnell-Douglas MD-80: Basic controls for the MD-80 series.
• Piper Cub: Simple controls for the classic Cub.
• Schleicher ASK 21: Glider-specific configuration.
• Generic Fallback: A broad configuration that works with most standard X-Plane aircraft.

Adding New Aircraft

You can add support for any aircraft by creating a new JSON file in the Resources/plugins/ifr1flex/configs/ directory. For detailed instructions on how to create these configurations, see the Aircraft Configuration Guide.

Quick Reference

A quick-reference guide for the aircraft you are using can be found in the Plugins menu of X-Plane.

Functionality

While the specific behavior of each button and knob is defined by the JSON configuration, most default configs follow a standard layout:

• Mode Selection: Press mode buttons to choose the mode that you will be working with (COM1, NAV1, FMS1, etc.).
• Shifted Modes: Long-press the inner knob (for ~0.5s) to toggle the shifted state. For example, in COM1 mode, shifting will take you to HDG mode.
• Autopilot Controls: The buttons across the bottom and right are generally mapped to autopilot and FMS functions.
• LEDs: The LEDs at the bottom show the status of the corresponding autopilot modes (e.g., AP engaged, ALT hold, etc.).

Settings

The plugin includes a Settings menu where you can customize its behavior. You can access it via the X-Plane menu: Plugins -> IFR-1 Controller -> Settings....

The following options are currently available:

• On-screen mode indication: Controls whether and where mode changes are displayed on-screen. When you switch modes (e.g., from COM1 to HDG), the plugin can briefly show the new mode name. This is helpful if you have an IFR-1 with older firmware that does not support blinking mode buttons. Available options:
  • disabled: No on-screen display (default)
  • lower-left: Display in the bottom-left corner of the screen
  • lower-right: Display in the bottom-right corner of the screen
  • upper-left: Display in the top-left corner of the screen
  • upper-right: Display in the top-right corner of the screen

Settings are saved automatically to a settings.json file located in the plugin's directory.

Troubleshooting

Device Not Found

• Verify the device is connected by running lsusb | grep 04d8:e6d6.
• Ensure the udev rules were installed correctly by the install.sh script.
• Check X-Plane's Log.txt for messages from the ifr1flex plugin.

Plugin Not Loading

• Ensure you are running X-Plane 12 on Linux.
• Check Log.txt for any error messages during plugin initialization.
• Verify the plugin has been installed to Resources/plugins/ifr1flex/lin_x64/ifr1flex.xpl.

Support

This plugin is a hobby project. If you encounter an issue or have a feature request, please open an issue on the GitHub Issues page.

Contributions are welcome! If you create a great configuration for a new aircraft, please consider submitting a Pull Request.

License

See the accompanying LICENSE file for details.