This is a repaint of the Embraer T-27 Tucano by J. E. Narcizo (AKA RanchoJEN) which can be downloaded from www.SurClaro (File name: emb312-1.zip). Many thanks to the author for this nice looking model.
This plane has been designed for FS2004 but it can be installed in FSX as well. In order to install it in FSX just run the installer, change the default installation folder from "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Flight Simulator 9" by browsing to any temporary folder; let's name this temporary folder C:\TOTO, for instance. Once the installer has run, you will get two sub-folders in C:\TOTO, namely "Aircraft" and "effects". Paste and copy the contents of the C:\TOTO\effects sub-folder to your FSX\Effects. Now search for the C:\TOTO\Aircraft\Emb 312 folder. Paste and copy the "Emb 312" folder to your FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes, and you're done.
This T-27 is to the best of my knowledge the closest match to a French EMB 312F although there are some significant differences between the two aircraft, the most obvious of which is a ventral airbrake on the French machine.
As far as external appearance is concerned there are various antenna arrangements according to the customer country and all aircraft I have seen have a prominent avionics fairing under the rear fuselage which is not depicted.
Moreover and unfortunately, the author has included in his MDL file some quite unexpected features, such as for example a completely fancy walkway on the port wing root, so trying to make an accurate repaint turned out to be a real nightmare.
Panel lines have been entirely redrawn for the sake of accuracy. Some of them unfortunately cannot be totally accurate either, because of the way the model has been designed. As usual most simmers won't notice the difference, but for those who have some T-27 or EMB 312F knowledge I apologize.
A new instrument panel would be necessary too. The French Tucano (which has now been withdrawn after only 15 years of service, some aircraft not having even reached 30% of their potential flying hours) had a panel of its own with typically French instruments and I shall try to portray this in the future.
For the time being let's go back to the installation and it is quite straightforward. Extract all files with the "Texture.AA.312-UF" path in this archive (making sure that "using folder names" is ticked) either to your FS9\Aircraft\[Emb 312] or to your FSX\SimObjects\Airplanes\[EMB312] installation folder, and everything should go to the right place.
Next, the aircraft.cfg file has to be modified by pasting the following text. Make sure to change [fltsim.XX] to the next number in series in your aircraft.cfg file.
-----------------------------------------------
[fltsim.XX]
title=Emb 312F FAF N°487 312-UF
sim=Emb 312
model=
panel=
sound=
texture=AA.312-UF
kb_checklists=
description=The Embraer EMB 312F was a variant of the Tucano developed specifically for the French Air Force. It served with the Air Force Academy in Salon de Provence between 1993 and 2009.
ui_manufacturer=Embraer
ui_type=EMB 312F
ui_variation=French Air Force N°487 312-UF
atc_heavy=0
atc_id=312-UF
atc_airline=French Air Force
atc_flight_number=UF
atc_type=Tucano
atc_parking_types=MIL_COMBAT
-----------------------------------------------
Please note this aircraft will appear under the "Embraer" aircraft manufacturer name in the "Select Aircraft" menu, and the aircraft type is "EMB 312F", which should put it at the top of the list.
I have designed six other EMB 312F repaints showing the French aircraft in both light grey / red and blue-grey liveries depicting various styles of markings and several commemorative schemes designed in view of the early and rather unexpected retirement of the French Tucanoes. Look also for 312F-458.zip, 312F-459.zip, 312F-472.zip, 312F-477.zip, 312F-483.zip and 312F-500.zip.
As usual, if ever your computer takes fire after installing this repaint, if your hard drive gets flooded by Coke or if your dog eats the mouse I can accept no liability whatsoever!
