FS2004 Swiss Air Lines Convair CV-240 VBF CA-18

This carefully crafted repaint showcases a classic Swiss Air Lines Convair CV-240 VBF CA-18, reflecting a precise level of detail and historical accuracy. It recreates the aircraft registered as HB-IRP, which originally entered service with Swiss Air Lines on February 11, 1949 and was christened “Graubünden.” Later in its life, it served multiple operators, including Mohawk Airlines, until it was eventually stored and parted out. Featuring textures by Hans Hermann, an upgraded model by Georg Hauzenberger, and the foundational work of Greg Pepper & Tom Gibson, this freeware add-on has been refined by the Virtual Birds Factory to operate seamlessly in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.

Classic Post-War Airliner Characteristics

Convair’s CV-240 series emerged shortly after World War II as a modern alternative to older piston-powered transports. It quickly gained recognition among European carriers like Swiss Air Lines, known for precise service and reliable regional flights. The real aircraft offered improved cabin pressurization, enhanced passenger comfort, and robust twin radial engines. In simulation, these qualities are faithfully mirrored through texturing intricacies, fuselage contours, and carefully tuned flight dynamics.

Key Visual and Technical Refinements

Developers have meticulously updated rivet lines, engine nacelles, and external markings to evoke the mid-century Swiss Air Lines appeal. By recreating the iconic lettering and paint layout of “Graubünden,” this texture set stands out for its authenticity. Users familiar with the Convair-liner can appreciate the cockpit architecture and aerodynamic profile that define this aircraft’s handling, both on the ground and in flight.

Base Model Requirements

This add-on is strictly a repaint and does not contain the base Convair package. Adequate operation demands installing the CV240VBFCA18_BASEPACK_010.ZIP, which can be found in the Fly Away Simulation mod library. Ensure the folders named cv240VBFca18, cv240VBFcb16, or CV240VBFmilitary are correctly positioned before proceeding. Failure to install the necessary base pack will prevent successful integration of this Swiss Air Lines repaint.

Installation Guidance

1. Extract the Zip Archive: Unzip the package’s contents into a temporary folder. You will see an executable setup file, typically named following a pattern such as cv240VBFca18_[airline]_[registration]_setup.exe.
2. Run the Setup: Double-click the included setup.exe to launch the installer. It will automatically place the chosen repaint and associated model files into either the cv240VBFca18, cv240VBFcb16, or cv240VBFmilitary folder, depending on the specific livery type.
3. Locate the Aircraft Configuration: Navigate to your Aircraft directory inside your Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9 folder, then open whichever of the three folders matches the newly installed repaint. Inside, you will see a file named (livery name)_add_to_aircraft_cfg.txt.
4. Update aircraft.cfg: Use a text editor (like Notepad) to open (livery name)_add_to_aircraft_cfg.txt and copy the [fltsim.xx] section provided. Then, open the main aircraft.cfg file in the same folder and paste the copied block under the last existing [fltsim.yy] entry. Replace xx with the next sequential number, save your changes, and close the file.

Verifying Successful Installation

Once completed, you should find “Swiss Air Lines – Convair CV-240 VBF CA-18” among your available aircraft in the simulator. If it does not appear, double-check the folder names—particularly cv240VBFca18, cv240VBFcb16, or cv240VBFmilitary—and confirm you are working within the correct FS2004 root directory.

With the installation in place and correct folder paths verified, you can enjoy the authentic Swiss Air Lines livery of this mid-century Convair classic in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004. Explore short- to medium-haul flights reflecting Swiss aviation heritage, and immerse yourself in a vintage flying experience shaped by the expertise of developers Greg Pepper & Tom Gibson, along with the outstanding enhancements by Georg Hauzenberger and Hans Hermann at Virtual Birds Factory.