Freeware files are always fascinating...because, so to speak, there is something noble in their creation. In our SIM world, since the earliest days of my involvement, I've never failed to wonder why someone (or some folks together) would create something regularly (and painstakingly), for us to enjoy...without any seeming benefit to them, except for their own passion for the hobby...and a desire to share it with others. There is nothing more gratifying to me in a README than the often found note, "Thanks for downloading...Hope you enjoy..."...I did find a couple of such notes today...So, it's always a pleasure to see such output...around here...no matter what SIM...Plus, personally speaking, without freeware, myself not being anywhere close to being a RW pilot, my own interest and learning in aviation, would have long dried up. Of course, it's certainly worth waiting (often) years for a premier product at a premier price (we have all done that) for that one special aircraft, but as far as continuous exploration of (and engagement with) (multiple) new things, in our hobby, is concerned, there is no substitute for freeware offerings...because it's endless and timeless in scope...and, most importantly, available everyday...

Today, I looked back just a couple of weeks at the freeware files uploaded into the libraries, and was fascinated at what was in store...in terms of their novelty and appeal...no matter how old the subject airlines and airliners are... (see or jumpt to the images, below) ...

So, please a find, here, a small sample of what I found...either a/c or repaints...with bits of notes about them, in the order of the images shown:

1. [3 Pics] Eastern B767-300ER (RR) Winglets (Eastern had formerly operated B727s, first dubbed as "Whisperjet" (see print on the aft-mounted engine, in one B727 image below), in the so-called "hockey stick" livery. On December 5, 1960, the 727 was launched with 40 orders each from United Airlines (you may refer to my post on 727 N7001U) and Eastern Air Lines. The first 727-100 had entered service (not with UAL) but with Eastern on February 1, 1964. Those 727s, of course, were anything but "whispers", being one of the noisiest types, at that time, in the world of commercial aviation. This Eastern 767-300, below, with (more) modern RR engines, probably fitted the "Whisperjet" title (see similar marking on front of a/c) much better.)
2. [1 Pic] Air Canada Rouge B767-300ER (This is an interesting leisure airline (naming was developed via a public contest). The livery is quite catchy too (featuring a clean white fuselage with the names Air Canada (bright red) and ‘rouge’ (burgundy) at the front and the distinctive Air Canada logo on the tail – cropped and with a twist). This low-cost subsidiary (of Air Canada) flies on short-haul and long-haul leisure routes from Canadian hubs. The airline operates both narrowbody Airbus jets and larger Boeing 767s. BTW, "rouge" means "red" in French, and in English, the meaning is a little different...of course...
3. [3 Pics] Boliviana de Aviacion B737-300 (Boliviana de Aviación or BoA (see a/c tail, below), is the flag carrier airline of Bolivia. It has 7 B737-300s (the very first Boeing 737 of the Classic series - see VC) in its current fleet. The airline is the successor to the (historic) Bolivian Airline, Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano (better known as LAB), which was the flag carrier and principal airline of Bolivia for 85+ years, from 1925 until it ceased operations in 2010.)
4. [2 Pics] Mitsubishi J8M1 Shusui (It was supposed to be license-built, in Japan, as a copy of the (rocket-powered and peculiar-looking) German "Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet". But all the Me 163 technical data, blueprints and engines were destroyed in the sea while being transported in a submarine. So, the prototype was built utilizing general Me 163 instructional manuals... (certainly could not have been an easy task). If you wish, you may compare these (curious) pictures of the J8M1 Shusui to those of a (German) Me 163, to see how close it came...Only 7 J8M1s were built, and only one survives to this day, preserved in the Planes of Fame Air Museum, in Chino (CA).)
5. [2 Pics] ANZ A340-200 and Virgin A340-600 (I've had opportunities to travel a few times in the A340 (-500/-600) variants. Here are the shortest and longest A340 (-200/-600) variants, shown B2B for comparison, in the colors of Air New Zealand and Virgin Atlantic. The A340-600 was the longest passenger airliner until the introduction of the Boeing 747-8 in 2010. Curiously, there was no (-400) variant of A340, but the A340-400X concept, evolved into the (-500/-600). I distinctly recall when LH switched from A345s/A346s to B748s for their long-haul...I missed seeing those long looking planes...used to remind me of the 707, probably because they had 4-engines just like the 707...🙂...if not for anything else...)
6. [5 Pics] Convair CV-240 American Airlines (Please note, here, the two interesting and authentic looking "electronic flight instrument" pop-up gauges, that also I found in the files of this week, which I've added to this a/c just for fun...the Convair 240, of course, never had these in its avionics... (1) Garmin GMC507 Autopilot (2) Garmin G5 with PFD and HSI modes.)
7. [3 Pics] TAM B777-300ER (This TAM sighting caught my attention today because I'd recently seen, here, a posting with a few excellent images of the A320 in the same (older) red TAM color. After a merger with LAN Airlines of Chile, TAM now operates as LATAM Airlines, and is now painted in the (new) LATAM livery. Do note, here, the Brazilian flag and the print "The Magic Red Carpet" on the nose of the 777.) 

Finally, for locale, for this post, I'm using the freeware Orbx Airport KHQM (Bowerman) scenery, that I'd picked up a while ago. Bowerman is a (beautiful) coastal town/airport, located ~100 miles southwest of Seattle-Tacoma (WA). I've heard of the popular Lana's Cafe there on the airport premises (see the final screenshot). Not sure if it's still open these days, but, after a (virtual) lunch of its (popular) sandwich and shake, at Lana's Cafe,...🙂...I have lifted off, here, either from (KHQM) Rwy 24 (out west, over the picturesque North Bay, towards the vast Pacific) or Rwy 06 (eastward, inland) ...for capturing the images you see below. BTW, the Bowerman Basin is a wildlife refuge to many kinds of birds...you may spot a few birds in the sky, above my AA Convair, in the last of those 5 CV-240 pictures)...!

Thanks for viewing...!!

Edited March 19, 20224 yr by P_7878

Stunning shots Sir !

cheers 😉

Great snaps mate !! .

Excellent shots mate! 😉 

Please, where did you get the Convair? My classic dream plane.

pmplayer, johnb, Alaska, and Vic et al.:

Thanks very much...!!

 

11 hours ago, Patco Lch said:

Please, where did you get the Convair? My classic dream plane.

I'm with you, Vic, and glad that, at least, someone else considers these rustic propliners....as dream planes...🙂....

These Convair a/c are from the CalClassic Website...(search for "CalClassic"). You'll see images of these (forgotten) classics there...CV (-240/-340/-440/-580)...

BTW, I just posted a few more pictures of other Convair variants, in a separate post...

Cheers...!

On 3/20/2022 at 3:31 AM, P_7878 said:

pmplayer, johnb, Alaska, and Vic et al.:

Thanks very much...!!

 

I'm with you, Vic, and glad that, at least, someone else considers these rustic propliners....as dream planes...🙂....

These Convair a/c are from the CalClassic Website...(search for "CalClassic"). You'll see images of these (forgotten) classics there...CV (-240/-340/-440/-580)...

BTW, I just posted a few more pictures of other Convair variants, in a separate post...

Cheers...!

I knew about California Classics but didn't know about the Convair being workable in V5. I have really enjoyed it. Thanks for that. The sound package is awesome.  So many times I have considered obtaining a copy of FS2004 from Amazon just to take advantage of some of those freeware prop liners. May not be true to life but they sure are fun to knock around in.:)