Douglas A-4 Skyhawk for FSX
13 reviews As far as fighter aircraft goes, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk seems to carry the depth and the quality that any pilot could ever need. Even though the aircraft first hit the skies in the mid-1950s, it still today is well respected for the sheer level of quality that it brought to the table. Read more...
- Compatibility
- Microsoft Flight Simulator X all versions inc. Steam Edition
- File size
- 810 MB
- Developer
- Virtavia
By using this remake of the aircraft, you'll be able to get a full understanding of what the aircraft brings to the table and why it was such a key part of military aviation for so long, with various nations across the globe making the most of its unique and outstanding qualities.
Key Features
In general, the package takes the main look at both the A-4E and the A-4F variants. This will give you a real education of how they flew and how they feel, along with all of the sub-variants of each of these models that exist for the most realistic representation possible.
Models and Cockpit
This recreation of the Skyhawk ensures that you are not left without a choice, with 26 amazing exterior models put together to make sure that you have the attention to detail, the realism, the scale, and everything else that you could possibly need to get total control of this aircraft, giving the ultimate level of versatility and power.
Likewise, the package comes with matching cockpit styles and designs to make sure that you can get the right level of familiarity with each model provided. The cockpit and the various changes that have been made to ensure that the pilots who decide to try them out will have no problems acclimatizing to the changes presented in each model provided.
Alongside this, you'll have total control of each aircraft thanks to the flight dynamics being altered for 22 of the 26 models. With various differences in performance and style in each of the models, this package does a fantastic job of capturing this and making each of the models will fly in the right manner and look excellent whilst you go along. The whole thing will come together in the right manner, capturing the immense level of detail that's required.
Each model added in the package comes with a fully functional APG-53A radar unit, fully equipped with various modes and functions to maximize performance and keep you on the right track in terms of the way that the aircraft operates. The whole thing feels comfortable and easy to fly with.
Makes the most of the original FSX models and takes them, improves them, and uses the detail of new textures and additions to optimize their design and their format in as many ways as they possibly can, detailing every possible change that could be required for the right level of detail.
Various Textures and Weapons
Comes with various texture sets so that you can feel nice and comfortable setting up the aircraft as you go, with multiple formats included. This includes 3 USN, 3USMC, 2 "Adversaries", 1 "Blue Angels" and 2 RAAF designs to give you the greatest level of choice it possibly can.
Are you interested in seeing the sheer firepower and strength of the Skyhawk? Then you really do need to try out the various load-outs included! Each of these comes equipped with various bombs, missiles, and tank assortments that allows you to see just how much firepower this tends to carry!
The model itself has been accurately and closely modeled, and this includes things such as the catapult bridle and the holdback assemblies so that the aircraft flies and performs the way that it was supposed to when you first decided to give it a try - FSX Acceleration is needed!
The extra versions added in here will give you a nice range of various liveries to pick from, but the most popular for a lot of people is the recreation of the popular Top Gear edition of the Adversaries! It adds a nice tropical and enjoyable livery to fly around with.
Each texture included in this package does the best that it can to truly capture the feeling and the precision of the original, with awesome 2048-pixel textures included. Each model also comes with bump-mapped textures to ensure that it can work as you had originally hoped for, details included.
Full 3D Virtual Cockpit
The 3D cockpit included has been revamped and managed in the same manner, managing those capture the depth and detail of the cockpit in the most elite detail possible. Everything included here is based on the real-life cockpits that you might be used to, making it excellent to fly.
Comes with amazing clicking sounds and extra audio that all come together when you are using the cockpit. This allows you to know when you have activated something as the relevant sounds will be played when you try and take off, making it nice and easy to fly the aircraft.
The addition of the RealGauge 3D instruments means that the whole cockpit does not just sound and look excellent; it gives out an outstanding level of performance, too! The whole thing comes together massively when using RealGauge and this ensures you'll have the maximum level of performance and control needed.
High-Quality Sound
High-quality sound sets, in general, are added using the real sounds of the aircraft itself to capture the detail and the depth of the real thing with ease, making sure you'll have no problem hearing the engine burst into life or the actual processes you ask for start to occur.
Design Your Own & Full PDF Manual
Fancy yourself as a talented designer? Then you need to try out the brilliant Photoshop-layered kits ready for you to mess around in. now, you can make up your own livery and designs and fly a version of the Skyhawk that fits with the image and the idea that you had in your head!
Stuck and not sure what to do? Then look into the quality of the brilliant PDF manual. Easy to read on the PC or on a mobile device, you can make the most of the illustrations to really decipher the task that you need to undertake!
About Virtavia
Founded in 1999 by Phil Perrott and originally named Alphasim who developed freeware aircraft for FS2004/FSX. Now rebranded as Virtavia who now publish payware add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Prepar3D based on the old heavily modified Alphasim stock.
Virtavia has a focus on military aircraft add-ons compatible with FSX, Prepar3D, and X-Plane. Focusing on historic and modern military aircraft, their add-ons have been well received by flight sim pilots and rated highly.
SimShack stock the entire range of Virtavia add-ons and continue to list any new versions or releases announced by Virtavia.
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Customer Reviews
Rated 4.2/5.0 based on 13 customer reviews
- 12/03/2015
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4/5
When I first installed this package, I was not really sure what I was going to be getting into as it's not really my style of aircraft. What I did find when I installed it, and after about 10 hours of usage, that it's still not my aircraft style!
However, this does not mean that it's a bad product or anything. It's made excellently, and I would definitely give it 5/5 for creation and authenticity. However, it's just not the kind of model that I spend time in when using a simulator - it's really not my scene.
Whilst the design is exactly just what you would have been hoping for, one thing that did stand out to me as a potential problem was the way that it handled. I'm not sure if it's just my own interpretation of the craft or anything but yeah, it felt a bit crazy at times. Perhaps I'll need to spend a few more hours trying it out to see if I can get to grips with that side of things!
That being said, the overall quality and attention to detail is excellent and I'd happily recommend this product to anyone who likes military aircraft.
- 12/03/2015
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5/5
An easy package to enjoy and being a part of, I was only put off slightly by the learning curve. I spent my first few days crashing and burning more than flying with any real precision or quality, so it was nice to be able to hope into the cockpit of this machine and actually enjoy myself after a few days of learning the hard way!
Overall, a lot of fun to mess around in and from my own little experiments and reading, more or less spot on with regards to the realism and the accuracy of the model itself.
This is a truly wonderful model that captures the class and detail of the real thing just right, and comes with all of the little features that people like myself would look out for.
If you are highly demanding of your FSX premium packages then I can safely say you can trust this to do the job.
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Tristan Pronk 07/28/2020
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4/5 Verified Purchase
A relatively simple model of a beautiful plane. The VC is not at all bad for this type of model, but of course functionality is limited.
The outside looks a bit plastic, but depending on how you sim it can look pretty good regardless. Definitely not bad.
It flies very easily, controls like a charm. No idea how realistic I could rate it in that sense. It does a good job cruising about slowly and gently, which I like in a model of this kind.
The soundpack is very nicely done and lends itself to some nice low fly-by spotting. I was quite impressed in that regard.
All in all, I would recommend this for anyone looking for a nice, no-nonsense military craft to just cruise around in. From slow scenery touring to acrobatics and ear-deafening fly-by's - it's in there.
- 12/03/2015
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5/5
When it comes to using a military aircraft in a flight simulator I can be a bit of a nightmare to get to grips with as I tend to find they are just a bit too quick for me, but I immediately got to grips with the Skyhawk without really having to push myself too much.
The overall quality of the model is excellent and whilst performance is more important, the attention to detail throughout this is absolutely stunning. The whole thing runs just as you would have hoped for, and I would happily recommend this package to anyone who needs something a bit more ambitious to fly around in.
- 12/03/2015
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4/5
When I made this purchase I have to admit I was really disappointed at first - it felt like a total rip-off! However, a few days of learning the jet and getting used to its nuances and I have to say it feels a whole lot better now. I can actually stay in command of my fighter when I fly which is always nice, and I feel like I never have to cede control of realism when I'm getting into the cockpit and enjoying myself. A fine package, and one that I would happily recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy a mess around in the A-4 with the knowledge that this is a truly authentic remake.
- 12/03/2015
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4/5
Having been lucky enough to have served as an engineer on the Skyhawk back in the day, I am a real simulation addict and wanted to try this out to see how it would feel to a pro who has genuine experience of flying this model.
What I found was that it was as good as could be expected. Not exactly 100% but good luck finding something that is - it's about as close as a simulator will allow given that they have some very obvious issues with regards to how realistic it can be - overall, it's a very good effort.
- 12/03/2015
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5/5
I hate flying aircraft in FSX that aren't in tune with the real life thing so I downloaded this with high expectations. I've got to say, though, that the quality of the aircraft is spot on. I tend to be very hard to please with these mods but I really got into the flow and feel of this aircraft within a few hours.
It's extremely in-depth in terms of the way that it flies so it makes a big difference in that context, I just wish that I could find a bit more time to fly it more extensively!
- 12/03/2015
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5/5
Flying military equipment is something I always feel quite uneasy about being a bit of a pacifist in general, but the power of the Skyhawk had me hooked from reading the description. Overall it's incredibly powerful and does everything that it can to push the boundaries and give you a real representation of this kind of aircraft.
Overall it's very well done and does everything it can to sell you the consistency and the depth needed, especially with an aircraft that's so incredibly fast.
- 12/03/2015
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4/5
Having tried my hand at designing this aircraft in the past (a miserable failure) this was a package I felt really engaged and invested in from the minute go. I loved the download of this as it gave me a really nice edition of the aircraft, far exceeding the qualities of my own!
Well worth having for anyone who enjoys flying aircraft in FSX that are a bit different to the norm, capturing all those little features.
- 12/03/2015
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3/5
Always a fan of flying the more nimble aircraft out there, I picked this up expecting to get something that would blow me away. Whilst it wasn't as rapid as I was hoping for, it's still a very impressive take on the aircraft.
My gripe is with the aircraft itself more than the model - by all accounts its very accurate. I'm just not a huge fan of the original aircraft itself, it turns out!
- 12/03/2015
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3/5
Although I tend to always find something to complain about (the quality of the model could be a bit better IMO) the quality of the flight dynamics was more than enough to win me around. This is a lot of fun to fly around in and thus the whole project becomes so much easier - and enjoyable - to be a part of as you start to pick up the pace. An easy selection to fall in love with!
- 12/03/2015
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4/5
Made to last for guys like me who really want to take each aircraft they buy to the very highest level, I found that this package was quite easy to get to grips with if you just put in the time and the commitment needed to understand how it flies. A really impressive package, and one that I would definitely recommend to other FSX fans.
- 12/03/2015
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5/5
Absolute 5/5! I love this product and found it really easy to fly. It seems to be made for guys like me who want to try out military aircraft without having to shell out the big sums other sites request.
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