FS2004 BEA Douglas DC-3

This repaint applies the classic British European Airways scheme to the default Douglas DC-3 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, incorporating carefully rendered metallic finishes by Mark Beaumont. It was then repainted to BEA standards by Dale DeLuca. While it matches historical references in most respects, there are some texture mapping limitations due to the base model's structure. Nonetheless, this freeware modification aims to offer a retro experience that evokes early European passenger aviation.

Vintage BEA Livery Details

Above is a preview of the DC-3 cruising with the BEA insignia under early post-war colors. British European Airways, formed shortly after World War II, notably operated short-haul routes across Europe and later merged into a larger national carrier. Although the iconic DC-3 is not typically associated with long-haul operations, its robust design and easy handling made it invaluable for regional service.

Limitations in Texture Mapping

This livery is partially constrained by the default DC-3 texture system: the aircraft’s model format uses mirrored wing and rudder BMP files. As a result, registering the airline logo on opposite wings is not fully supported, and any rudder graphics appear reversed on one side. However, fuselage graphics retain accurate British European Airways branding, and the overall aesthetic is still evocative of classic mid-century aviation.

Installation Steps

• Extract the contents of BEADC3.ZIP to a temporary directory.
• Go into your Flight Simulator 9/Aircraft/Douglas_DC3 folder, then duplicate the existing texture folder.
• Rename your new folder to texture.BEA.
• Move the seven BMP files from the extracted download into texture.BEA.
• Create a backup copy of AIRCRAFT.CFG located in the Douglas_DC3 folder.
• Open AIRCRAFT.CFG in a text editor and insert the snippet below under the last [flightsim.xxx] section (update the “xxx” as required):

[fltsim.xxx]  (Replace xxx with the next available number)
title=Douglas DC-3 British European Airways
sim=Douglas_DC3
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=BEA
kb_checklists=Douglas_DC3_check
kb_reference=Douglas_DC3_ref
atc_id=
ui_manufacturer=Douglas
ui_type="DC-3"
ui_variation="British European Airways"
description="The Douglas DC-3 revolutionized air transportation and airline service during the 1930s and 1940s. It was a luxury airliner that boasted cabin heat and running water in its on-board lavatory. With the right balance of efficiency, range, speed, and payload, the DC-3 was the first aircraft to earn a profit for its owners just by carrying passengers. The hero of early airlines, a handful of DC-3s are still at work today."

• Save your changes to AIRCRAFT.CFG and launch the simulator. This aircraft variant will then appear in your selection menu.

Key Contributors

Mark Beaumont (Base Metal Textures)

Created the metallic style that forms the foundation of this paint.

Dale DeLuca (Repaint)

Applied the distinctive British European Airways markings and refined the exterior look.

Remember that this is a repaint only and does not include the core DC-3 model. You will need the freeware base package from the Fly Away Simulation library to complete the installation.