FS2004 Alitalia McDonnell Douglas MD-82 I-DATO

This free repaint package features the elegant Alitalia McDonnell Douglas MD-82 “Reggio Emilia” for Just Flight’s Traffic 2004. It is designed for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, providing a faithful and visually accurate representation of Alitalia’s short/medium-haul workhorse with a realistic flight model and intricately detailed textures. Repaint and flight model by Daniel Nole.

Technical Enhancements for the McDonnell Douglas MD-82

Within this package, each texture element has been carefully redesigned to reflect the “Reggio Emilia” aircraft, registered as I-DATO (C/N 53219-2062). The exterior artwork aligns with the historical Alitalia livery, and the developer has fine-tuned essential parameters such as engine thrust, fuel consumption, and weight distribution. These refinements ensure optimal flight performance, including correct climb rates and cruise handling for enhanced immersion.

Background on Alitalia’s Choice of the MD-82

This aircraft type has long been a central player for Alitalia’s fleet, taking over from the retired DC-9 series. In the early 1990s, multiple MD-82 airframes began operations under Alitalia colors, each named after various locales across Italy. “Reggio Emilia” frequently services popular hubs across the continent, forming part of the core short-haul schedule alongside Airbus models like the A319, A320, and A321. Historically, these MD-82s have stretched their range across major European airports and, for a period, augmented some medium-range routes under Alitalia’s robust timetable.

Revised Traffic Plans and Real-World Routing

To complement the livery, the Traffic 2004 flight plans have been meticulously updated by the creator, eliminating inaccurate assignments such as older widebody types showing up at smaller airports. The revised schedules now align closely with real-world patterns, placing the correct aircraft on their usual routes. The developer also included more accurate altitudes—35,000 to 39,000 feet—for this configuration, ensuring that in-simulator traffic behaves in a manner consistent with genuine MD-82 operations.

Key Examples of Route Adjustments

• Long-haul services to destinations such as Caracas transferred to suitable widebodies (e.g., Boeing 767-300 or Boeing 777-200ER).
• Domestic and regional airports are now served by narrower fuselage aircraft such as the MD-82 or Embraer 145.
• Retired types, like older DC-9s or Boeing 747s, have been accurately removed from active passenger routes.

Installation Instructions

After unzipping the JFAiMD82 folder into a temporary directory, place the JFAiMD82 folder into your main “Aircraft” directory for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. Should you have an existing Alitalia MD-82 from the same developer, simply add the new repaint folder (texture.az5) to your current aircraft directory, merging it as needed. Please note, you will require the payware base model from Just Flight’s Traffic 2004 to fully utilize this repaint.

As always, this repaint is offered free of charge. All credits, including repaint and flight mechanics, go to Daniel Nole.