FS2004 Southern Airways Martin 404

Immerse yourself in a distinct slice of airline history with this repaint for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. It merges Southern Airways’ eye-catching 1974 branding with the dependable airframe of the Martin 404. Although the real carrier did not apply this specific livery to its Martin fleet, the textures add a touch of creative authenticity to any fan of vintage flight operations. Developers Dee Waldron (for the original model) and Gary Harper (for the custom textures) have collaborated to capture the essence of Southern’s style while preserving the aircraft’s classic contours.

Historic Context and Unique Visual Presentation

Southern Airways purchased a fleet of 25 Martin 404s from Eastern in the early jet age, operating these twin-engine piston aircraft until May 1978. Despite their gradual retirement, they retained a strong reputation for solid performance on shorter regional routes. The 1974 livery showcased here represents a discontinued scheme that was never officially applied, but it still conveys the classic corporate image the airline envisioned. This repaint emphasizes the fuselage shape and windows typical of Martin’s post-war aircraft design.

Focus on Martin’s 4-0-4 Airliner

The Martin 4-0-4 emerged in the early 1950s as a pressurized and stretched development of the earlier 2-0-2A. It relied on powerful R-2800 piston engines, originally designed with either -CB3 or -CB16 models to accommodate different operational requirements. Although it faced competition from well-established Convair types, the 4-0-4 still served many U.S. carriers, including Southern, captivating passengers with its comfortable cabin layout and efficient climb profile.

Complementary Visual References

Installation and Configuration Details

This repaint is intended for the freeware Martin 404 model by Dee Waldron. You will need to obtain that base package from the Fly Away Simulation library to ensure proper functionality. To get started, simply install the freeware model, then place these custom textures into the aircraft’s “texture” folder, following standard folder naming conventions. Lastly, insert the following lines into your “aircraft.cfg” file, ensuring you replace “xx” with your next consecutive bracket number for each livery entry.

[fltsim.1]
title=Martin 4-0-4 Southern 1974 Final Scheme
sim=M404-CB3
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=SO74
kb_checklists=
kb_reference=M404_CB3_ref
prop_anim_ratio=1.76
ui_manufacturer=Martin
ui_type=4-0-4 Skyliner
ui_variation=Southern Airways 1974
description=The 4-0-4 Skyliner was the 1951 pressurised and stretched fuselage equivalent of the modified 2-0-2A having been extensively redesigned to compete with the pressurised and long established Convair CV-240. Pressurisation finally allowed the power of R-2800-CB16 engines to be exploited by TWA, but EAL intended to use the 4-0-4 only over short hauls away from mountains and so they specified the R-2800-CB3 engine with no high blower. This eventually became the engine in most 4-0-4s. The 1951 4-0-4 inherited structural flaws from the original 1947 2-0-2 and was still subject to significant restrictions when carrying a large payload. Although more than twice as successful as the unpressurised 2-0-2A the 4-0-4 was structurally inferior to the later CV-340 which appeared in 1952. Crucially the USAF, by far the largest purchaser of US manufactured propliners after WW2, continued to buy twin engined propliners only from Convair and production of the Martin 4-0-4 soon ended with only 101 in airline and USCG service.

Credit to the Creators

Repaint Author: Gary Harper

Original Model Developer: Dee Waldron

Both creators meticulously ensured the textures align with Southern’s projected color scheme, allowing flight sim enthusiasts to explore historically inspired visuals. Whether you are navigating short regional hops or re-creating authentic commuter flights, this addition will bring a touch of genuine period atmosphere to your Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 hangar.