FS2004 Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-400

Immerse yourself in a carefully recreated Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-400 repaint crafted for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. Developed by Tony Potter, this livery brings an instantly recognizable paint scheme to the default 737-400 model. It captures the vivid color palette that Southwest Airlines is known for and merges seamlessly with the aircraft’s existing wing and fuselage lines. This package does not contain the base airplane, and you will need to acquire the freeware original from the Fly Away Simulation library in order to fully enjoy the repainted textures.

Distinctive Visual Details

This repaint focuses on portraying the hallmark traits of the Southwest Airlines fleet. Reflective metallic finishes punctuate the leading edges around the wings and engine nacelles, while the tail section displays the iconic branding and livery stripes. Tony Potter’s keen attention to detail extends to alignment of logos, ensuring that they line up cleanly across fuselage boundaries. Several subtle shading effects add depth to make the aircraft look more realistic in various lighting conditions.

Key Characteristics of the Boeing 737-400

The Boeing 737-400 remains a prominent variant from the classic 737 series family. It features an extended fuselage compared to its sister models, offering increased passenger capacity while retaining a short- to medium-range mission profile. Southwest Airlines has built a reputation for operating substantial fleets of 737 variants, and this repaint attempts to combine performance accuracy with an authentic exterior finish. Pilots can anticipate the usual twin-engine layout, friendly handling traits, and reliable quick-turnaround capability consistent with 737 family designs.

Installation Procedure

1. Extract all files from the downloaded archive into a temporary folder on your system.
2. Move the “Texture.SWA” folder into your “FS2004/aircraft/b737_400” directory.
3. Open the aircraft.cfg file in the “b737_400” directory, locate the last [fltsim.#] entry, then paste the following [fltsim.x] section, replacing “x” with the correct sequence number.
4. Save the aircraft.cfg file, confirming that the new entry is properly appended.
5. To hear “Southwest” from ATC, ensure “Southwest” is present in your “airline.cfg.” You can opt to edit the file manually using a text editor or utilize a tool such as Michael DeLong’s Airlines Configuration File utility to make these changes.
6. Launch your simulator, select the newly added Southwest Airlines variation, and enjoy your flight.

[fltsim.5]
title=Boeing 737-400 SWA
sim=Boeing737-400
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=SWA
kb_checklists=Boeing737-400_check
kb_reference=Boeing737-400_ref
atc_id=N737T
atc_airline=Southwest
atc_flight_number=1123
ui_manufacturer=Boeing
ui_type="737-400"
ui_variation="Southwest Airlines"
description="One should hardly be surprised that the world's most prolific manufacturer of commercial aircraft is also the producer of the world's most popular jetliner. The 737 became the best-selling commercial jetliner worldwide when orders for it hit 1,831 in June 1987 (surpassing Boeing's own 727 as the previous champ). However, it wasn't always that way as in the first few years of production, there were so few orders that Boeing considered canceling the program. They didn't, and the airplane has more than proven itself in over three decades of service."

Enhancing Your FS2004 Fleet

This repaint provides a vivid look at the Southwest brand for pilots seeking variety within FS2004’s Boeing classics. It maintains compatibility with the default flight deck and avionics, so you can quickly hop into the cockpit and perform short- to mid-range flights. Tony Potter’s livery adds realism to airport scenes and helps replicate Southwest’s well-known operations, delivering authenticity to your virtual routes across the United States. Be sure to install the base freeware model from Fly Away Simulation’s library to complete your experience. Once everything is in place, set the course and watch the distinctive livery beam as you climb through the skies.