The Microsoft Flight Simulator team partnered with Aeroplane Heaven to develop the 10th airplane of their “Local Legend” series: the Boeing 307 Stratoliner, the first airliner in revenue service with a pressurized cabin.

Its roots date back to 1935, when five of the biggest North American carriers had signed a contract with Douglas to fund the development of the DC-4, with a contribution of $100,000 each and an agreement not to fly other aircraft that were within its expected weight figures. The project was a disaster, leading to the airlines canceling their orders, yet still wishing to buy a large four-engine airplane at one point.

Later that same year, Boeing designed a four-engine aircraft based on the B-17, with a larger pressurized part of the fuselage and the same wings, tail, rudder, undercarriage, and engines. Over the following months, the engineers extensively tested the pressurization by coating the fuselage with soapy water and then watching for bubbles indicating an air leak.

Three years later, the prototype was ready to roll, flying for the first time in late 1938 and eventually crashing in early 1939 after a nearly irrecoverable stall that tore off the left outer wing with the engine still attached. The ten occupants were killed that day.

After figuring out what caused the accident and coming up with a solution, the program was finally back on track, with the approval to operate commercially in March 1940 and Pan Am being the first customer.

The Stratoliner could cruise at speeds of 350 km/h at 20,000ft, with a crew of six and either 33, 38, or 60 passengers, with a range of 3,846 km.

It’s available on the MSFS Marketplace for $14.99.

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