FS2004 Cathay Pacific Airways Airbus A340-300 B-HXG

Cathay Pacific has long utilized the wide-bodied Airbus A340-300 for extended routes, and this freeware package reproduces aircraft registration B-HXG with exceptional detail. Developed by the Project Open Sky team and painted by Jaco du Preez, this release comes fully complete with model files, advanced animations, and carefully crafted textures to enhance realism in FS2004.

Highlighting the Advanced Airbus Design

Refined Exterior Components

This rendition of the A340-300 incorporates animated panels on each wing surface, independent suspension on the landing assemblies, and dynamic wing flex that reacts to varying turbulence or gusts. It also showcases opening engine thrust reversers, functional vent scoops under the belly, and specialized materials for reflective textures. These surface effects adhere closely to the design principles of the real four-engine Airbus platform.

Cabin and Cockpit Enhancements

The virtual cockpit offers interactive instrumentation and incorporates rain effects on the windshield while operating in VC view. The panel, fashioned by Pasquale Rinaldi, displays accurate layouts consistent with Airbus documentation. Additionally, the Gary Hayes textures enrich interior spaces with deeper detail, capturing cockpit nuances and window reflections. Night lighting is also optimized so that both the exterior fuselage and cockpit controls remain visible with subtle illumination.

Meticulous Development and Credits

Behind this detailed freeware model stands a team of experts. Shervin Ahooraei engineered the core modeling, while Warren C. Daniel oversaw flight dynamics. Ben Hewitt and C. Vincent Cho contributed essential textures for the airframe, and Nick Peterson and Simon Ng Hin Tat worked as FDE advisors. Key XML programming efforts were provided by Fraser Turner and Bill Leaming. Meanwhile, the gauge integration, also directed by Pasquale Rinaldi, ensures that all cockpit functions are deeply connected to flight operations.

Performance-Oriented Flight Model

Tested by a genuine A340 pilot, this simulation precisely aligns control-surface angles, fuel capacities, and landing gear dynamics with the official Airbus data. Thanks to a thoroughly researched FDE, the package contains multiple engine configurations, including the -5C2, -5C3, and -5C4 powerplants, plus an A340-313E variant featuring adjusted MTOW (Maximum Takeoff Weight). Focused allowances for payload and weight stations in FS2004 reinforce authenticity, and primary or alternate gear contact points (for up to four struts) handle runway interfaces realistically.

Key Functional Attributes

• Complex aileron and elevator behaviors, incorporating droop features when engines shut down.
• Two versions (2D and 3D) of engine fan blades for enhanced immersion.
• High-detail landing gear repre­­sentation (including additional textures and greater part geometry).
• Comprehensive lighting effects, including inspection lights and condensation visuals.
• Opening passenger doors, cargo bays, and varied animations (Shift+E, Shift+T, and Shift+E+2).

Real-World Cathay Pacific and the A340

Cathay Pacific, based in Hong Kong, employed a fleet of Airbus A340s for transcontinental and ultra-long-haul routes. The airline’s meticulous approach to cabin service is echoed here in the realism of the textures, and the distinctive livery of registration B-HXG remains faithful to the real aircraft’s presence in international skies. Notably, the four-engine setup of the A340 allows for extended over-water flight paths, which was a significant advantage for intercontinental travel.

Installation Instructions

1. Extract the downloaded file and move the resulting aircraft folder into your FS2004 AIRCRAFT directory.

This freeware Cathay Pacific Airbus A340-300 package is fully posed for immediate use, requiring no additional base models. With its extensive features, it will help recreate the long-haul operations Cathay Pacific once performed across the globe. Enjoy the intricacies of four-engine handling in FS2004, and be sure to credit Project Open Sky and Jaco du Preez for their commitment to this all-encompassing virtual aviation experience.

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