FSX/P3D Automobile Association DeHavilland DH.89A Rapide

Aircraft repaint for Dave Garwood's de Havilland DH. 89A Dragon Rapide v4 only. Built in 1944 as NR693, G-AHKV (c/n 6792) served with British European Airways from 1946. By 1954 Sky Neon Aviation were flying the aircraft at night over London with underwing neon advertising signs. Registered to the Automobile Association in 1957, G-AHKV became the most famous of all their aircraft. Flown by former RAF Mosquito pilot Bill Lewis, she was used as a traffic spotter, monitoring congestion and incidents from the air. The prototype of the DH. 89A Mk 6 conversion, G-AHKV had sophisticated electrical and navigation equipment on board. She was also an air ambulance, repatriating AA members who had suffered accidents or illness in Europe and dropping supplies to snowbound villages in Scotland. Sold by the AA in 1963, she was burnt at Birmingham Airport in 1969. Two variants of the livery are included. By Adrian Petford.

This is my first ever aircraft repaint.

Two variants are included in the package, one with and one without the grey escape hatch on the roof which is visible in some photographs up to 1959. At least one colour picture of the aircraft exists from 1960 with an entirely black roof.

A very famous Rapide, G-AHKV has often been the subject of artwork or models. This repaint has been created entirely from photographs of the real aircraft without any reference to recreations. Colours were sampled from a single colour photograph of G-AHKV. The AA car badge on the nose is a genuine one from 1957.

INSTALLATION:

01. Unzip this archive to a location of your choice.

02. Copy the folders -

texture.G-AHKV-AutomobileAssociation1959
texture.G-AHKV-AutomobileAssociation1960

- into SimObjects\Airplanes\DH89a V4 in the main folder of your simulator(s).

03. Also in SimObjects\Airplanes\DH89a V4, open the aircraft.cfg file in an editor of your choice such as Notepad.

04. Copy and paste the text below into your aircraft.cfg file underneath the existing [fltsim.**] sections. Make sure you change the [fltsim.x] and [fltsim.x+1] headers to the next two numbers following on from your existing paint schemes.

[fltsim.x]
title=FSX Dh89 V4 G-AHKV Automobile Association (1959) 8-windows intakes DF_loop_2 no-pax
sim=rapide_v4
model=V4
panel=
sound=
texture=G-AHKV-AutomobileAssociation1959
panel_alias=
sound_alias=
kb_checklists=
kb_reference=Rapide_ref
atc_id=G-AHKV
atc_id_color=
atc_airline=FANUM
atc_flight_number=
ui_manufacturer="de Havilland"
ui_type="DH.89A Dragon Rapide"
ui_variation="Automobile Association G-AHKV (1959)"
ui_typerole="Twin Engine Prop"
ui_createdby="DG Designs"
description="6-8 passenger airliner and military training/comms aircraft which first flew as the Dragon 6 in April 1934. 737 were built up to 1945.\n\nPowered by 2 x 200 hp DH Gipsy Six 6-cylinder, air-cooled piston engines. \n\nBuilt in 1944 as NR693, G-AHKV (c/n 6792) served with British European Airways from 1946. By 1954 Sky Neon Aviation were flying the aircraft at night over London with underwing neon advertising signs. Registered to the Automobile Association in 1957, G-AHKV became the most famous of all their aircraft. Flown by former RAF Mosquito pilot Bill Lewis, she was used as a traffic spotter, monitoring congestion and incidents from the air. The prototype of the DH.89A Mk 6 conversion, G-AHKV had sophisticated electrical and navigation equipment on board. She was also an air ambulance, repatriating AA members who had suffered accidents or illness in Europe and dropping supplies to snowbound villages in Scotland. Sold by the AA in 1963, she was burnt at Birmingham Airport in 1969. Repaint: Adrian Petford."
prop_anim_ratio=1.7

[fltsim.x+1]
title=FSX Dh89 V4 G-AHKV Automobile Association (1960) 8-windows intakes DF_loop_2 no-pax
sim=rapide_v4
model=V4
panel=
sound=
texture=G-AHKV-AutomobileAssociation1960
panel_alias=
sound_alias=
kb_checklists=
kb_reference=Rapide_ref
atc_id=G-AHKV
atc_id_color=
atc_airline=FANUM
atc_flight_number=
ui_manufacturer="de Havilland"
ui_type="DH.89A Dragon Rapide"
ui_variation="Automobile Association G-AHKV (1960)"
ui_typerole="Twin Engine Prop"
ui_createdby="DG Designs"
description="6-8 passenger airliner and military training/comms aircraft which first flew as the Dragon 6 in April 1934. 737 were built up to 1945.\n\nPowered by 2 x 200 hp DH Gipsy Six 6-cylinder, air-cooled piston engines. \n\nBuilt in 1944 as NR693, G-AHKV (c/n 6792) served with British European Airways from 1946. By 1954 Sky Neon Aviation were flying the aircraft at night over London with underwing neon advertising signs. Registered to the Automobile Association in 1957, G-AHKV became the most famous of all their aircraft. Flown by former RAF Mosquito pilot Bill Lewis, she was used as a traffic spotter, monitoring congestion and incidents from the air. The prototype of the DH.89A Mk 6 conversion, G-AHKV had sophisticated electrical and navigation equipment on board. She was also an air ambulance, repatriating AA members who had suffered accidents or illness in Europe and dropping supplies to snowbound villages in Scotland. Sold by the AA in 1963, she was burnt at Birmingham Airport in 1969. Repaint: Adrian Petford."
prop_anim_ratio=1.7

05. Save your amended aircraft.cfg file. The repaint is now ready to use.

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