CLS 747-300

The Boeing 747 is a long-range, wide body commercial passenger jet aircraft. The Boeing 747-300 was introduced in 1980 and replaced the -200 passenger version. The -300 version introduced improvements like aerodynamic changes, stretched upper deck and straight staircase for the upper deck rather than the spiral.

Started in 2005, Commercial Level Simulations (CLS) has grown to a high quality commercial add-on developer for MS Flight Simulator. Their products are not that expensive and yet high quality.

Their Boeing 747-300 is a beautifully designed aircraft and it represents the real 747-300 very well. The 747-300 is part of the 747-200/300 package. It contains both 747 classics in all engine variants, very nice sound sets for all engine variants, detailed manual, livery manager and 65 high quality liveries. This product is available in FS2004 and FSX version.

Many cockpit systems are simulated like GPWS, TCAS, IRS, etc. The functionality of the CDU is limited and can automatically read the IFR flightplan that you've created in FS. The flight dynamics are well balanced and the animations are very accurate. The autopilot is working perfectly. With small icons on the 2d panel, you can switch the virtual cockpit on and off. Another icon shows a diagram of the aircraft with areas that can be clicked to open doors, show the pushback truck and other vehicles. The majority of the liveries are high quality.

If you're looking for the ultimate realism, you have to look further. The 2d panel looks ok, but the functionality is limited. Many parts of the panel are made from (low resolution) photos, especially the top of the main panel looks familiar; it's a part of the overhead panel of the retired KLM 747-200 SUD (PH-BUK) that has been stored in Lelystad, The Netherlands. See this photo on airliners.net:

https://www.airliners.net/photo/KLM---Royal/Boeing-747-206BM(SUD)/1267753/L/

There is only one panel for both the 747-200 and -300, the one with tape gauges, so for round gauges (which are widely used in both types as well) I would recommend the Ready For Pushback Boeing 747-200, although that product is not compatible with FSX. The virtual cockpit looks nice and most buttons and switches are clickable. Again, many textures are made from photos and low in resolution.

Strange as it is, it seems that CLS still doesn't care much about crosswind situations. Like many other CLS aircraft, the rudder is only effective when airborne. On the ground it can only handle calm crosswinds, otherwise the aircraft will slip off the runway. The landing gear however, is animated correctly and very detailed too.

--