FS2004 SAS Airbus A340-313 LN-RKF

Immerse yourself in a highly refined simulation of the Airbus A340-313, painted in Scandinavian Airlines' colors and identified as LN-RKF. Designed by Project Open Sky and meticulously finished by Ben Hewitt and additional contributors, this four-engine wide-body aircraft is delivered here as a complete freeware package, fully tailored for FS2004.

Engineering and Exterior Design

Model Designer: Shervin Ahooraei, supported by an entire group of talented experts, assembled this virtual airliner with precise attention to surface details and material properties. Its visual appearance integrates reflective textures and transparent lighting elements, creating a remarkably authentic look in varied weather conditions. Furthermore, the transition of control surfaces, such as ailerons and rudder, utilizes full animation sequences that react realistically.

Dedicated Contributors

Flight Dynamics Designer:

Warren C. Daniel

Master Textures:

Ben Hewitt, C. Vincent Cho

Virtual Cockpit Textures:

Gary Hayes

FDE Advisors:

Nick Peterson, Simon Ng Hin Tat

Virtual Cockpit Gauges:

Special thanks to Pasquale Rinaldi

Panel:

Pasquale Rinaldi

XML Programming:

Special thanks to Fraser Turner and Bill Leaming

Painted By:

Ben Hewitt

Notable External and Internal Highlights

• Advanced Control Surface Animations: All flaps, elevators, and spoilers operate with smooth transitions, and drooping ailerons appear when the engines shut down.
• Dynamic Flexing Wings: Advanced wing movement is programmed to depict turbulence effects in real-time (implemented with support from Fraser Turner).
• Refined Thrust Reversal: Thrust reversers deploy fully when idle reverser thrust is engaged for realistic landing rollouts.
• Reflective Surfaces: Each part of the fuselage and wing structure carries a specific reflection profile, creating a visually accurate metallic sheen.
• Detailed Textures: The livery includes an array of finely-tuned elements that mirror the actual Scandinavian Airlines paint scheme, supplemented by weathered areas for additional authenticity.
• Interchangeable Engine Fans: Switchable between 2D and 3D fans for performance and appearance preferences.
• Enhanced Lighting Setups: Night lighting, landing lights visible from the flight deck, and reflective cockpit windows collectively boost immersion.
• Comprehensive Doors and Cargo Bays: Passenger doors and cargo compartments open entirely independently, with specific keystrokes (Shift+E for left door, Shift+T for right door, Shift+E+2 for cargo).
• Rain Effects (VC Mode): Windshield raindrops in the virtual cockpit perspective, enhancing realism in adverse conditions.
• Dynamic Shine and Vent Scoops: Additional touches include distinct shine differences and animated vent scoops under the belly (Shift+W).
• Robust Crash Effects: Systemic damage modeling ensures striking visual effects on unintended impact.

Virtual Cockpit Features

Constructed specifically for FS2004, the virtual cockpit features clickable controls for various systems. This cockpit was optimized to maintain a stable balance of graphical fidelity and performance. Meanwhile, the transparent navigation light lenses and reflective cockpit windows preserve the lifelike environment.

Accurate Flight Modeling

• Real-World Documentation: Flight dynamics align with Airbus reference material, enabling precise handling and authentic aerodynamic responses.
• Control Surface Ranges: Each surface replicates true maximum deflection angles, ensuring proper flaps, ailerons, and elevator travel.
• Contact Points: Carefully derived positions ensure correct aircraft stance, including realistic scraping points and gear geometry.
• Payload Customization: Fully compatible with FS2004’s weight and balance stations for simulated passenger and cargo loading.
• Multiple Engine Variants: Models include the A340-200 and -300 equipped with -5C2, -5C3, and -5C4 configurations, plus the A340-313E edition featuring -5C4/P engines and an enhanced maximum takeoff weight.
• Inspection Light Effects: Improved illumination for close-up external checks or ground operations.
• Thorough Testing: Validated by an actual Airbus A340 pilot, ensuring the flight envelope mirrors real operations.

Scandinavian Airlines and LN-RKF Specifics

The real-life Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates long-haul routes with the A340, offering intercontinental connectivity. Registration LN-RKF is one of the distinctive identifiers painted onto this simulation, bringing the recognized branding into your home cockpit. You will notice that SAS typically employs these wide-body jets for routes across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, highlighting the importance of fuel efficiency and reliability in extended operations.

Installation Guidance

1. Extract the contents from the downloaded archive.
2. Move or copy the included aircraft folder directly into your FS2004 “Aircraft” directory.
3. Launch FS2004 and select the SAS A340-313. It should appear in the aircraft selection menu under Project Open Sky.

This freeware aircraft mod is presented by Project Open Sky, with textures provided by Ben Hewitt and various talents who collaborated to create a fully realized experience for those looking to fly an Airbus A340-313 in true Scandinavian Airlines style.