Cessna C172 D-EAEX

This free repaint package adds the real‑world German‑registered D‑EAEX colour scheme to A2A Simulations’ paid Cessna C172R package for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Created by Tim Scharnhop, the files reproduce the distinctive white, royal‑blue, and light‑grey striping worn by a Reims‑built F172N Skyhawk that operates from small aerodromes across northern Germany. Textures have been compiled in 4096 × 4096 resolution to take full advantage of A2A’s Accu‑Sim material and wear‑and‑tear shaders, yet they remain performance‑friendly on mid‑range hardware.

Visual Fidelity Tailored to the Accu‑Sim Model

• Correct placement of LBA registration marks beneath both wings and on the empennage.
• Metallic leading‑edge boots subtly weathered to mirror time in coastal conditions.
• PBR‑ready alpha channels for users who have ported the A2A Skyhawk into Prepar3D v5.
• Custom normal maps that align with A2A’s rivet and screw locations, eliminating shadow mismatch.

Reims‑Produced Skyhawk—A Brief Context

The “F” prefix in F172N denotes assembly by Reims Aviation in France under license from Cessna, a practice that ran from the early 1960s until 1986. Although mechanically identical to the Wichita‑built airframes—Lycoming O‑320‑H2AD engine, 2 040 lb MTOW, and the N‑model’s enlarged fuel tanks—the European production line introduced corrosion‑proofing and metric placarding to satisfy JAR regulations. The real D‑EAEX is often seen at EDVM (Hildesheim) and EDXQ (Stade), making this repaint ideal for virtual pilots who enjoy grass‑strip hopping along the Elbe.

Livery Highlights Worth Noting

Dynamic Fresnel Reflection

Paintwork reacts realistically to varying sun angles, especially during dawn and dusk circuits.

Hand‑drawn Decals

The “Reims‑Cessna” tail badge and German flag are vector‑redrawn for crisp readability.

Nose‑Cap Colour Match

Specific #2d3f6e blue tone sampled from high‑resolution photographs prevents colour banding under HDR lighting.

Step‑by‑Step Integration into FSX

1. Extract the archive A2A_C172_D‑EAEX.zip to a temporary location, keeping the internal directory structure intact.
2. Move the folder texture.D‑EAEX into …\Microsoft Flight Simulator X\SimObjects\Airplanes\A2A_C172.
3. Edit aircraft.cfg inside the same aircraft directory. Add the following block beneath the last [fltsim.x] entry and increment the x value sequentially.

[fltsim.xx]
title=C172R D‑EAEX
sim=C172
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=D‑EAEX
kb_checklists=C172_check
kb_reference=C172_ref
atc_id=D‑EAEX
ui_manufacturer=A2A Cessna
ui_type="C172R Skyhawk"
ui_variation="D‑EAEX"
ui_typerole="Single Engine Prop"
ui_createdby="A2A Simulations Inc."
description=Repaint by Tim Scharnhop – German‑registered Reims‑built F172N.

Save the file, launch the simulator, and you will find the new paint under the A2A Cessna manufacturer entry.

Essential Requirements and Credits

This package contains textures only; the A2A Simulations Accu‑Sim C172R Trainer aircraft (available separately via outlets such as SimShack) must already be installed. Full credit goes to Tim Scharnhop for the livery work and to the A2A Simulations development team for the base model that makes such detailed repaints possible.