FSX Air France Airbus A320-211

Experience a distinctive representation of Air France’s 75th anniversary Airbus A320-211 in FSX with this complete freeware release by the Project Airbus team. This repaint, authored by Mohammed Al-Khalifa, features the registration F-GFKJ and showcases the special commemorative scheme dedicated to highlighting Air France’s storied heritage. The Airbus A320 itself, introduced in the late 1980s, remains one of the world’s most frequently used short-to-medium range airliners, prized for its fly-by-wire controls and efficient narrow-body design. Air France, established as the French flag carrier, has deployed A320 series aircraft across a broad network of European and regional routes, underscoring the airline’s commitment to comfortable and modern service.

Visual Insights and Historical Significance

Project Airbus emerged during a vital period for flight simulation development, when add-on creators strove to heighten realism and fidelity in virtual aviation. Founded by Thomas Ruth and Trevor Slack in 2002, this collaborative endeavor integrated contributions from numerous talents such as Nicholas Wu, Michael Karam, Gianmarco Bettiol, and several others. The aim was to capture every nuance of real-world Airbus models, from the precise geometry of the aircraft’s fuselage to the intricacies of cockpit instrumentation. After successfully introducing their acclaimed A300 rendition, the group turned its attention to the A320 family, producing a highly regarded aircraft simulation that now stands as a top-quality freeware base.

Technical Perspective on the Aircraft and Livery

The real-world Airbus A320 design integrates advanced fly-by-wire flight control systems, which modulate pilot inputs via electronic signals (in contrast to mechanical linkages). Air France’s 75th anniversary scheme honors the company’s history, incorporating retrospective elements into its contemporary paint layout. This repaint preserves those external details precisely, bringing together Project Airbus’s meticulous modeling and Mohammed Al-Khalifa’s refined texturing. Wear-and-tear details, cabin window configurations, and the airline’s celebratory emblems establish an immersive environment for dedicated enthusiasts.

Key Functionalities and Animations

• Pressurization outflow valve: Adjusts internal cabin pressure by controlling outflow levels on the ground and inflight.
• Ground spoiler deployment: Restricts lift and aids braking, crucial for realistic descent profiles.
• Pack outlets: Adapt to temperature changes and replicate real-world A320 airflow mechanisms.
• Idle reversers: Extend briefly following thrust cut-off, an authentic Airbus characteristic.
• Parallel double bogies: Modeled for accurate double-bogey configurations as seen on certain variants.
• Dynamic jetwash: Visible exhaust flow while engines remain in operation.
• Aileron and elevator droop: Control surfaces return to a lowered position upon engine shutdown.

Moreover, there are several extra capabilities embedded in this model. You can open passenger jetway doors, cargo bays, and even observe dynamic lighting effects for strobes, navigation, and beacons. Refined dynamic shine brings life to the fuselage under variable lighting conditions, complemented by wing views that reveal fine details of the wings and engines. Gear extension and retraction sequences mirror the real aircraft’s timing, enriching your experience.

Door and Cargo Hatch Operations

Within this A320 simulation, you can control multiple exits with standard Flight Simulator X commands:

L1 Door

Use Shift + E

L2 and Cargo Doors

Tail hook up/down (assign a custom control if unavailable by default)

R1 and R2 Doors

Wing fold/unfold (also assignable to a key binding)

Installation Process

1. Move the folder named "P A A320 Air France 75th" into the “SimObjects/Airplanes” directory within your FSX installation.
2. If you have not already installed the model effects, copy the contents of this add-on’s “effects” folder into the main “Effects” folder found in your FSX directory.

This completes the setup. Dive into the cockpit and test-fly the newly added Airbus A320 with Air France’s commemorative paint scheme in your simulator.

Contributors and Collaborators

Throughout its development, the Project Airbus team has enlisted the efforts of many individuals dedicated to capturing the Airbus experience accurately. Significant work on the external model stems from Andy Warden, while Thomas Ruth shaped the virtual cockpit and XML coding. Peter Binamira provided flight dynamics data and sounds, and Demetris Themistocleous spearheaded base textures. The livery repertoire, including this Air France anniversary version, links back to a cooperative environment involving John Tavendale, Derek Mayer, Alessandro Savarese, and others. Feedback, organization, and testing assistance came from names such as Matthew Murray, David Bromwich, Nick Wu, and Alexander Kvitta.

Special thanks go to additional guest painters like Ben Jones, Dickson Chan, and Terence Pereira. Real-world pilots, including Capt. Manny Osias and F/O Spike Acenas, evaluated flight dynamics to ensure consistency with genuine Airbus procedures. Their firsthand expertise proved invaluable, enhancing the authenticity of the overall flight model.

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