FSX China Eastern Airbus A320

This fully freeware repaint showcases the “Magnificent Qinghai” theme on a China Eastern Airbus A320. It is specifically crafted for the FSX AI Bureau model (FAIBA320.ZIP). Created by the developer FSX AI Bureau and painted by Mariano Bonaccorso, this add-on offers high-fidelity external textures and accurate airline markings for discerning simulator enthusiasts.

Project Background and Livery Highlights

The Airbus A320 is a short-to-medium range jet frequently employed by carriers worldwide, and China Eastern’s “Magnificent Qinghai” scheme highlights a promotional design focused on the scenic Qinghai region in China. This repaint captures the airline’s logos, color gradations, and specialized motifs. The winglets and fuselage display dynamic color transitions, reflecting the aesthetic feel of the original aircraft’s promotional message.

Technical Texture Information

Inside the included texture directory, you will find files prepared in DDS format for FSX. An additional FS9 folder hosts BMP files if you prefer using older simulator versions. In both cases, the layouts follow the established guidelines of the FSX and FS9 SDK, ensuring high compatibility. For any alternative compression or format, a separate TGA set is also provided, enabling tailored conversions with no discernible quality reduction.

Integration into Your Hangar

• Ensure that you already have the base FSX AI Bureau (FAIBA320.ZIP) model installed in your simulator. This repaint depends on that AI model.
• Place the supplied “texture.CES_Qinghai” folder into the A320 aircraft folder, typically found in your SimObjects/Airplanes directory (or a similarly named folder).
• Open your aircraft configuration file (aircraft.cfg) and insert the appropriate [fltsim.X] entry shown below. Change “X” to the next sequential number in that file.

[fltsim.X]
title=AI A320 CES_Qinghai
sim=FAIB_A320
model=CFM
texture=CES_Qinghai
atc_airline=CHINA EASTERN
atc_parking_codes=CES
atc_parking_types=GATE
ui_manufacturer=Airbus
ui_type=A320
ui_variation=China Eastern
description=AI Aircraft from FAIB

Tips for Proper Functionality

When adjusting the above lines, verify that “model=CFM” aligns with the folder structure for the CFM-powered A320 within your simulator’s directory. Also confirm that any references, such as “FAIB_A320,” match the core file naming from your base model installation.

For those new to customizing or adding liveries, consult your flight simulator’s SDK documentation and the original notes packaged with the FAIB model. Proper configuration of the aircraft container ensures the repaint displays correctly.

Credit to the Creators

This freeware package comes courtesy of FSX AI Bureau’s solid A320 AI framework and detailed paintwork by Mariano Bonaccorso. Users who enjoy immersive passenger traffic representations or desire to populate virtual airports with realistic China Eastern aircraft will find this repaint an excellent addition.