FSX Douglas AD-4N Gabon 1980

This repaint brings to life the Douglas AD-4N aircraft, flown by the Gabonese Presidential Guard in 1980, for Microsoft Flight Simulator X. Based on Tim Conrad’s foundational A-1H Skyraider model, it showcases historical Gabon Air Group colors and emblematic markings adapted to the unique AD-4N variant. The included textures and installation configuration have been carefully altered to align with real-world modifications seen on French and Gabonese Skyraiders.

Historical Context of the Gabonese AD-4N

The Douglas Skyraider family stems from post-World War II American naval designs and found extended service with multiple air forces worldwide. In the case of Gabon, a small fleet of AD-4N aircraft was donated by France, reflective of surplus assets following the retirement of these airframes from French service. These specific aircraft were incorporated into the Presidential Air Group, notable for their distinctive paint scheme and operational status within the region.

French Influence and Adaptation

Before entering Gabonese service, many AD-4N units were ex-US Navy models transferred to the French Air Force. Upon arrival in France, they underwent extensive modifications such as removal of arresting hooks and installation of specialized antenna equipment suited for local operational needs. This background explains why Gabon’s AD-4N aircraft carried particular radio arrays and other design features not found on original US Navy Skyraiders.

Technical Notes on the Featured Repaint

This release offers a faithful livery recreation of the 1980 Gabonese Presidential Guard aircraft, complete with historically correct markings. Subtle differences specific to the AD-4N (as opposed to the A-1H) were addressed wherever possible, including the fixed airbrakes. Moreover, subtle details such as exhaust stain patterns and inner pylon paintwork capture the authentic visual aspect of these specialized machines.

Gabonese Air Group AD-4N in flight configuration.

Operators equipped the Skyraiders with various weapons that could include bombs, rockets, or a centerline drop tank for ferry flights. However, when these aircraft transitioned from French to Gabonese hands, the distinctive center drop tank retained its navy blue coloration, providing a striking contrast against the rest of the aircraft’s finish.

Installation Information and Setup

Since the original freeware A-1H Skyraider base pack by Tim Conrad represents an AD-6 (renamed A-1H in 1962) rather than an AD-4N, this repaint goes beyond simply dropping a texture folder into the existing directory. It is recommended that you create a separate “AD-4” folder inside your Microsoft Flight Simulator X “SimObjects/Airplanes” directory and copy over all contents from the A-1H folder (except its texture subfolders). Then, add the new repaint files, which include a slightly modified aircraft.cfg and the necessary texture subdirectory, ensuring the airbrakes remain consistently closed and avoiding deployment conflicts.

If you already have other AD-4 repaints installed, you can append the relevant code block below into your existing aircraft.cfg, carefully renaming the [fltsim.XX] section to the next available number. This ensures that your list of installed paints continues its correct sequence without overwriting previously added entries.

Required Aircraft.cfg Entry

[fltsim.XX]
title=AD-4N_Gabon
sim=AD-4
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=Gabon_MP
panel_alias=
sound_alias=
kb_checklists=
kb_reference=
atc_id=126956
atc_id_color=
atc_parking_types=
atc_parking_code=
atc_airline=
atc_flight_number=
ui_manufacturer=Douglas
ui_createdby="Piglet's Peculiar Planes"
ui_type=AD-4N
ui_variation=Gabon Presidential Air Group 1980
description=Prop Driven naval CSAR and Close Support Aircraft
visual_damage=1

This snippet ensures the textures will display properly without interfering with the original A-1H model’s functionality.

A closer look at the AD-4N’s profile during flight.

Acknowledgments to the Creators

This work would not have been achieved without Tim Conrad’s detailed A-1H Skyraider base model and his comprehensive paint kit. Many thanks go to Tim for making this freeware asset available. Recognition also goes to Frank Safranek for his valuable suggestions at each stage. The repaint has been meticulously prepared by Michel Gerard, who welcomes user comments and constructive feedback.

Please note that any hardware or software mishaps that arise while installing or operating this repaint are at your own risk. This add-on is provided as freeware, and it excludes the base model, which can be obtained from the Fly Away Simulation mod library. If your system or peripherals encounter unforeseen trouble, no responsibility can be accepted. That said, the team hopes this depiction of Gabon’s AD-4N adds further historic immersion to your flight operations in Microsoft Flight Simulator X.