Flight Simulator Boeing 737-300
Posted by: adminAbout the Boeing 737-300 aircraft for flight simulator for FSX, FS2004 and FS2002.
The 737-300 was launched in 1981 by both USAir virtual and Southwest Virtual Airlines becoming the first model of the 737 Classic series. The aircraft has a typical capacity of 128 virtual passengers in a two class configuration (137 seats in a one class coach seating configuration). The 300 series remained in production until 1999 when the last aircraft was delivered to Air New Zealand Virtual Airlines on 17 December 1999.
More about the Boeing 737-300 for virtual airlines, flight simulator and online flying FSX, FS2004 and FS2002.
Various modifications have been made to aircraft previously in service. The 737-300 can be retrofitted with Aviation Partners Boeing winglets and these are also available in Flight Simulator. The 737-300 retrofitted with winglets is designated the -300SP (special performance). Used passenger -300 aircraft have also been converted to freighter versions. The Lockheed Martin CATBird is a modified 737-300 with the nose of a Lockheed F-35 Lightning II, a pair of canards, and (inside) an F-35 cockpit; to be used to flight test the F-35’s complete avionics suite. In December 2008, Southwest Virtual Airlines selected Boeing to retrofit the 737-300 with a new set of instruments, hardware and software, in order to improve commonality between the two aircraft types, as well as to support the Required Navigation Performance initiative.
More details about the modifications made to the Boeing 737-300
The 737-300 is the first of the three member second generation CFM56 powered 737 family, which also comprises the stretched 737-400 and shortened 737-500, which are all still available in many liveries for flight simulator. The success of the second generation Boeing 737 family pushed sales of the mark to over 3000, a record for a commercial virtual airline jetliner. Boeing announced it was developing the 737-300 in March 1981. This new variant started off as a simple stretch over the 737-200 but Boeing decided to adopt the CFM International CFM56 high bypass turbofan (jointly developed by General Electric and SNECMA) to reduce fuel consumption and comply with the then proposed Virtual International Civil Aviation Organisation Stage 3 noise limits. Despite the all new engines and the 2.64m (104in) fuselage stretch, the 737-300 retains 80% airframe spares commonality and shares the same ground handling equipment with the 737-200. A number of aerodynamic improvements were incorporated to further improve efficiency including modified leading edge slats and a new dorsal fin extending from the tail which is accurately recreated in flight simulator. Another feature was the flattened, oval shaped engine nacelles, while the nosewheel leg was extended to increase ground clearance for the new engines. Other internal changes include materials and systems improvements first developed for the 757 and 767 programs, including an early generation EFIS flightdeck (with four colour CRT screens). The 737-300 flew for the first time on February 24 1984, while first deliveries were from November 1984, not long after was available for virtual airlines using flight simulator. Since that time well over 1000 737-300s have been sold and it forms the backbone of many virtual airlines short haul fleets and many versions of the aircraft are available for flight simulator.
