FSX Condor/Thomas Cook Airbus A320

This complete freeware package features three distinct Condor/Thomas Cook Airbus A320 repaints by Marco Fischbach, utilizing the renowned Project Airbus base model. It has been tested with Service Pack 2 and includes a fully functional virtual cockpit for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. These liveries showcase various design phases of the airline from 2002, 2004, and 2009. Each variant highlights subtle logo changes and color modifications, ensuring a realistic representation of Condor’s well-known vacation operator branding under Thomas Cook. Extracting everything into your simulator is straightforward, and once installed, you can transport holidaymakers to popular destinations with true-to-life visual detail.

Airbus A320 Background and Airline Evolution

The Airbus A320 is a short- to medium-range aircraft introduced by Airbus in the late 1980s, featuring fly-by-wire technology and efficient aerodynamics. Condor, a German leisure carrier, has operated the A320 family extensively, especially under the Thomas Cook Group banner. Over the years, Condor/Thomas Cook introduced updated tail designs, revised fuselage titles, and unique logo placements, all accurately reflected in these three repaints.

Key Technical Enhancements

The Project Airbus A320 model (designed using XML techniques) emphasizes realistic aircraft behavior. Below is a highlight of system functionalities:

• Pressurization Outflow Valve (manages internal cabin pressure and opens automatically at low speeds on the ground).
• Ground Spoilers that respond to surface operations.
• Pack Outlets adjusting to temperature loads (helpful for simulating airflow management).
• Idle Reversers, which remain partially deployed briefly after shutdown, and fully engage under low reverse thrust settings.
• Optional Double Bogey gear (used by specific operators), with parallel bogies for accurate gear suspension.
• Dynamic Jetwash simulation visible when engines are running.
• Control surfaces such as Elevators and Ailerons that drop realistically once engines are powered off.

Additional Visual and Operational Features

• Moving passenger and cargo doors operated via standard and custom key assignments.
• Specially coded lighting effects like dual strobes, beacons, and authentic touchdown visuals.
• Wing views offering cabin or over-wing perspectives.
• Dynamic shine for refined external reflections.
• Accurate gear deployment to match real-world retraction timing.

Configuring Doors and Exits

These doors function via default and additional simulator key mappings:

• L1: Main exit (Shift + E)
• L2 + Cargo Doors: Toggle tail hook (no default assignment)
• R1 + R2: Wing fold/unfold (no default assignment)

Installation Process

Unzip the provided archive into your Flight Simulator X/Aircraft directory, ensuring all Effects files are placed into the main Flight Simulator X/Effects folder. After that, load up the simulator, select the new Condor/Thomas Cook A320 variations, and experience each era’s livery details.

Developer Insights

The textures in this set include both legacy and modern branding, capturing iconic paint schemes that appeared over several years. The earliest scheme dates to around 2002 and includes older Condor titling, while the more recent 2009 version reflects the Thomas Cook branding shift. This range of liveries was created to satisfy enthusiasts wanting maximum authenticity in airline themes. According to the author, Marco Fischbach, these textures were refined to address small design nuances often overlooked in other packages.

Project Airbus Team Contributions

Many individuals contributed to the foundation of this model and ensured its functionality:

Andy Warden

External model design

Thomas Ruth

Virtual cockpit development and texture mapping (XML coding)

Peter Binamira

Flight dynamics and audio integration

Demetris Themistocleous

Core textures and specific airline liveries

Alessandro Savarese

Base texture elements

John Tavendale, Derek Mayer

Livery painting

Matthew Murray

Corporate design direction

Gianmarco Bettiol, Nick Wu, Trevor Slack, Alexander Kvitta, David Bromwich

Extensive feedback during development

Guest painters and collaborators include Ben Jones, Dickson Chan, Jaco du Preez, Sheldon Fernandes, and Terence Pereira. Their efforts helped refine various details. Flight dynamics were tested and evaluated by real-world flight professionals, including Capt. Manny Osias, F/O Spike Acenas, Mark Bolatete, and Kester Masias, further enhancing realism.

Configuration Snippet

Below is an excerpt from the package configuration file, reflecting geometry definitions for door placement and nose gear position:

[Descr]
Type=W320
[Geom]
Nosegear= 11.45
Door1=-2, 11.35, 3.35, 5
Door4=-1.8,-13.15, 3.7,-5
Front= 1.5, 8.4, 1.8
Rear= 1.5,-6.25, 1.8

This freeware release on Fly Away Simulation offers a fully functional Project Airbus A320 base model bundled with accurately detailed Condor/Thomas Cook repaints. By installing it, pilots can immerse themselves in multiple airline era transitions while enjoying modern and legacy branding throughout virtual skies.