FS2004 Alitalia McDonnell Douglas MD-82 I-DAWS

This repaint package for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 presents an Alitalia McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registration I-DAWS, famously named "Aosta". Created by developer Daniel Nole for use with Just Flight’s Traffic 2004 payware package, it reflects Alitalia’s historic short- to medium-haul operations. Featuring a finely tuned flight model and accurate liveries, this add-on offers authenticity for virtual pilots seeking to bring genuine Alitalia traffic into their simulator environment. It is completely freeware but requires the Traffic 2004 model to function.

Uniquely Tailored Alitalia Livery

Alitalia has traditionally relied on the MD-82 for a significant portion of its regional and inter-European flights, particularly before introducing Airbus A319, A320, A321, and Embraer EMB145 aircraft. This specific repaint showcases registration I-DAWS (“Aosta”), which is part of a collection of aircraft named after Italian towns or regions. Employing features associated with the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 series, this airframe represents a logical continuation of the DC-9 lineage. Alitalia historically put these jets into service around the early 1990s, leveraging their efficiency for routes across Europe and parts of North Africa.

Operational Highlights

During its peak usage, Alitalia’s MD-82 fleet frequently served busy European destinations, such as Barcelona, Amsterdam, Madrid, London, and Frankfurt. They also offered reliable connections to North Africa and the Mediterranean region, flying passengers to locations like Tunis and Tripoli. In the past, older widebody jets like the Boeing 747 and McDonnell Douglas MD-11 shared long-haul services, although the airline later modernized with Boeing 777-200ER and other twinjets.

Focused Flight Plans

This repaint corrects certain fictional flight schedules found in Traffic 2004 by assigning more realistic aircraft types to routes. For instance, you will no longer encounter an MD-11 operating a short domestic leg to airports such as Bari or Catania, and a Boeing 767-300 is now flagged for transatlantic services like AZ666 to Caracas. By restructuring altitudes (commonly between FL350 and FL390) and matching actual arrival and departure airports for Milano Malpensa and Milano Linate, this package strives for a timetable aligned with real-world operations.

Upgraded MD-82 Air File

The included flight model by Daniel Nole refines parameters such as engine thrust, weight distribution, fuel usage, and aerodynamic performance. As a result, virtual pilots can enjoy a faithful simulation of the MD-82’s operating envelope—everything from takeoff characteristics to approach handling has been carefully adjusted to reflect actual performance figures. This enhancement marries well with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004’s environment, ensuring stable yet realistic control responses.

Installation Procedure

• Extract the JFAiMD82 folder from the downloaded archive to a temporary workspace.
• Open your Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 main directory and locate the Aircraft folder.
• Place the entire JFAiMD82 folder into the Aircraft folder.
• If you already installed another variant of this Alitalia MD-82 series, simply integrate the new texture.az3 folder into your existing JFAiMD82 directory.

Credits and Additional Details

All repaint and flight model work is by Daniel Nole, who meticulously crafted the visuals and performance fine-tuning. This package is freeware but intended for those who own Just Flight’s Traffic 2004 payware model (available separately). Alitalia MD-82 I-DAWS “Aosta” brings a historic Italian operator’s backbone aircraft into your simulator, offering a genuine look and feel in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.