diff --git a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
index 8dcefe3d1..66d0a4809 100644
--- a/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
+++ b/src/Main/fg_init.cxx
@@ -343,6 +343,12 @@ bool fgInitFGAircraft ( int argc, char **argv ) {
     // if an aircraft was specified, set the property name
     if ( !aircraft.empty() ) {
         SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_INFO, "aircraft = " << aircraft );
+        if ( aircraft.empty() ) {
+            // Check for $fg_root/system.fgfsrc
+            SGPath sysconf( globals->get_fg_root() );
+            sysconf.append( "system.fgfsrc" );
+            aircraft = fgScanForOption( "--aircraft=", sysconf.str() );
+        } 
         fgSetString("/sim/aircraft", aircraft.c_str() );
     } else {
         SG_LOG(SG_INPUT, SG_INFO, "No user specified aircraft, using default" );