FS2004 APSA Convair CV990A

Experience a carefully restored representation of the rare Convair CV990A in Aerolineas Peruanas S.A. (APSA) colors, created for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. This freeware release combines authentic detailing and expert artistry to showcase Convair’s distinctive jetliner design while paying tribute to APSA’s historical operations.

Aircraft Origins and Development

The Convair CV990A, also known informally as the “Coronado,” emerged as a competitor to the early Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 series. It offered five-across seating—a departure from the six-across layout of its rivals—and emphasized higher cruising speeds in an attempt to capture new airline customers. However, this focus on speed and unconventional cabin arrangements limited its commercial success, leading to a modest production run of only 39 airframes.

Signature Features and Visual Effects

Erick Cantu originally built the base model, which integrates dynamic shine to replicate real-world surface reflections. Yannick Charland developed the master textures, ensuring the fuselage and fin details appear crisp under various lighting conditions. The Historic Jet Group design principles add an extra layer of authenticity, bringing period-correct geometry and proportion. Pilots can also appreciate fully animated control surfaces, such as flap systems and landing gear, for a truly immersive simulation environment.

Technical Implementation

Beyond the surface aesthetics, the virtual CV990A implements reflective textures to simulate subtle metallic qualities as the aircraft maneuvers. These visual enhancements, along with finely tuned flight dynamics, capture the performance nuances of the Coronado, including its higher top-end cruise speeds.

APSA Livery and Background

Aerolineas Peruanas S.A., commonly abbreviated as APSA, served Peru’s commercial aviation sector for a period during which many Latin American carriers were beginning to upgrade their fleets. This module offers the airline’s unique fuselage banding and standardized logo placements, meticulously recreated. Valuable references for the repaint came from Mark Cranston, ensuring historical accuracy. Tony Madge contributed the final APSA paint scheme, completing the visual transformation of this rare jetliner.

Immersive Flight Deck Elements

The cockpit emphasizes intuitive layouts and period-correct instrumentation. Coupled with the CV990A’s crisp external modeling, simmers gain a well-rounded view of the aircraft’s heritage and functionality, particularly inside Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.

Included Aircraft Configuration

Below is the aircraft configuration file code demonstrating how this repaint is structured within the simulator:

[fltsim.0]
title=Convair CV990A APSA - AEROLINEAS PERUNANAS
sim=990
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=al
ui_manufacturer=Convair
ui_type=990A
ui_variation=APSA - AEROLINEAS PERUNANAS
atc_type=CONVAIR
atc_model=CV99
atc_heavy=0
atc_id=OBR765
atc_airline=APSA
atc_flight_number=719
checklists=
description=This plane was the final development of Convair's competition to the DC-8 and 707. Convair's choice to use 5 across seating and emphasizing the plane's speed proved to be a marketing disaster and only 39 of the model 990 were produced.\nModel by Erick Cantu\nMaster textures repaint by Tony Madge

Credits and Collaboration

This fully packaged freeware project brings together multiple contributors’ efforts. Original modeling was carried out by Erick Cantu. Guidance for the repaint and photographic documentation was provided by Mark Cranston. The Historic Jet Group injected additional refined details. Additionally, Tony Madge ensured the APSA color scheme would match period references, and Yannick Charland shaped the master texture designs.