FSX JPS Streak Shadow

This freeware repaint adds a rustic John Player Special (JPS) style to the payware Rarewings Streak Shadow, originally designed by David Cook back in the 1970s. Created by Neil Birch, this rendition showcases a worn yet striking livery for a high-performing ultralight that is noted for its excellent short-field prowess. The real-world aircraft can reach about 100 mph in cruise and has demonstrated remarkable agility—famously lifting off from a cricket field in its early days. Anyone seeking to integrate this skin into Microsoft Flight Simulator X will require the payware model, which can be obtained from a store such as SimShack.

Aircraft Background and Historical Insight

The Streak Shadow, a microlight produced under the umbrella of Cook Flying Machines, emerged in an era where small, lightweight aircraft were rapidly gaining popularity. David Cook engineered it with robust structural concepts and streamlined aerodynamics—key factors that allow reliable operations from short-runway sites. Despite its accessible Microlight classification, pilots have praised the Streak Shadow for its unwavering performance, stable handling characteristics, and spirited visual presence in the sky.

Paint Scheme Highlights

This repaint by Neil Birch reproduces a weather-beaten John Player Special finish. The dark hues, historically tied to various motorsport liveries, are accented with subtle wear effects, giving it a realistic and seasoned appearance that stands out on the ramp. While the aerodynamic form remains unchanged, the overall look and feel will appeal to any pilot wanting a touch of racing heritage blended with vintage flair.

Installation Steps for the Livery

• Extract the downloaded ZIP package to a temporary folder on your computer.
• Inside that unzipped directory, locate the texture.usa folder. Copy or move this folder into your CFM Streak Shadow directory, which is typically found at:
  c:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\CFM Streak Shadow
• Since you might be installing a new repaint in this location for the first time, edit the aircraft.cfg file in the same folder to include a new [fltsim.x] entry.

Configuration File Adjustments

Open aircraft.cfg in a text editor and look for sections labeled [fltsim.0], [fltsim.1], and so on. Copy and paste the sample code below, placing it immediately after the existing entries. Be sure to increment the fltsim number (for instance, if the last entry is [fltsim.1], change the pasted section to [fltsim.2]).

[fltsim.2]
title=Streak Shadow JPS SPECIAL
sim=CFM Streak Shadow
model=
panel=red
sound=
texture=usa
atc_id=G-BNBF
ui_manufacturer=CFM
ui_variation=JPS
kb_checklists=
ui_createdby="Rarewings"
atc_heavy=0
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=
description=Neil's Stars and Stripes

After saving the aircraft.cfg, load Microsoft Flight Simulator X and confirm the new livery is available. Ensure the payware Rarewings base model is installed and active before selecting this John Player Special repaint on the aircraft selection screen.