This is certainly a proper question and can be answered in a clear and concise way.
To make aircraft or scenery objects, you need a 3D design tool. GMax is one example of this and it is included in your FS2002 or FS2004 flight sim package.
The GMax package contains tutorials to get you started and there are other great tutorials around as referenced above.
Once the objects are made, they are exported and compiled to become Flightsim objects, scenery objects or aircraft.
Aircraft are made up of various components. The exterior visual model referenced above, the interior model (also known as the virtual cockpit), the panel and gauges, the sounds, the textures, and the flight model. Ideally, the aircraft package would also include documentation, checklists, references etc.
The exterior and interior models have animations that are done in the 3D design package (like GMax). The model must also be prepared for texture application. This is called mapping.
Panels and gauges typically have two aspects: the 2D panel and the virtual cockpit. The 2D panel is created as a separate entity and included in the final package. Panel bitmaps and gauges are prepared for the aircraft to look like their real world counterparts. Gauges are typically programmed in C++ or xml. The VC model is developed in GMax. A 3D panel and cockpit is constructed much the same as the exterior model. One or more "surfaces" or planars are positioned over the panel backgrounds upon which the gauges are displayed.
Sounds are developed from recordings, mixed, placed, and looped to fill out the aircraft environment. Sound mixing and editing skills are required here. There are many software packages available but there are a few developed with FS in mind.
Textures are required to "paint" the aircraft. Typically the modeler maps the aircraft for texture application and provides templates of the mapping so texture artists can paint the aircraft parts. There are many great texture development tools available, all very sophisticated and require some time to master. Paint Shop Pro and Photoshop are examples.
Flight models are another highly interesting and challenging aspect of the aircraft package. FS2002/4 has FSEdit available to get you started, and if used correctly, will provide flight characteristics that reasonably represent the model.
To do this kind of work, you will need SDK's (System Development Kits) that can be downloaded ffrom Microsoft.
http://www.microsoft.com/games/flightsimulator/fs2004_downloads_sdk.aspThese explain some of the aspects of the things mentioned above.
I hope this helps you get a basic understanding of what is required to build and upload an add-on.
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