On December 6th, 2025, The Virtual Aviator released a comprehensive video review of the PMDG Boeing 777‑300ER for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. It is also available on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020. This aircraft has been one of the most anticipated releases in the flight simulation community, and PMDG’s reputation for high‑fidelity modeling set expectations sky‑high. In this article, we’ll walk through the highlights of the review, covering systems, visuals, performance, and overall immersion.
Aircraft Overview
The Boeing 777‑300ER, often referred to as the “Triple Seven,” is the largest and most powerful twin‑engine jet in commercial service. Powered by GE90‑115B engines, each producing nearly 115,000 pounds of thrust, the aircraft is capable of flying over 14,000 kilometers nonstop while carrying up to 368 passengers. PMDG has recreated this long‑haul workhorse with remarkable attention to detail, bringing its scale and capability into MSFS 2024.
Cockpit and Systems Simulation
- FMC & Avionics: The review demonstrates PMDG’s fully functional Flight Management Computer (FMC), allowing realistic route programming, SID/STAR integration, and performance calculations.
- Electronic Flight Bag (EFB): The EFB adds modern utility, including performance data, charts, and customization options.
- Checklists & Procedures: From pre‑flight setup to engine start, taxi, and takeoff, the aircraft follows authentic Boeing procedures, making it a true study‑level simulation.
- Failure Modeling: PMDG includes system failures and redundancy logic, giving simmers the chance to practice real‑world troubleshooting.
Visuals and Modeling
- Exterior Model: The 777‑300ER’s massive fuselage and wingspan are captured with precision. Texturing, animations, and lighting effects showcase PMDG’s artistry.
- Cockpit Detail: Every switch, knob, and display is modeled with high‑resolution textures, creating an immersive flight deck environment.
- Sound Design: The GE90 engines roar with authentic audio, from idle hum to full‑power takeoff.
Performance in MSFS 2024
Tested on a high‑end system (Intel i9‑13900KF, RTX 4080, 64GB RAM), the aircraft runs smoothly with medium‑to‑high settings. Frame rates remain stable even in complex sceneries and VATSIM traffic, proving PMDG’s optimization efforts.
Flight Experience
The review video walks viewers through a complete flight sequence:
- FMC setup and cockpit preparation
- Pushback and engine start
- Taxi and takeoff
- Cruise, descent, and approach
- Landing and shutdown
This step‑by‑step coverage highlights the aircraft’s realism and the satisfaction of flying a long‑haul jet in MSFS 2024.
Why Choose PMDG 777-300ER?
- Authentic Flight Dynamics: True-to-life handling characteristics.
- Advanced Systems Modeling: Accurate simulation of avionics and automation.
- Customisation Options: Adaptable liveries and cockpit settings.
Conclusion
The PMDG 777‑300ER for MSFS 2024 is a milestone release. It combines study‑level systems, stunning visuals, and stable performance, making it one of the most immersive long‑haul aircraft available in flight simulation. For simmers seeking realism and depth, this aircraft is a must‑have addition to their virtual hangar.
Checklist
1. PREFLIGHT
- PARKING BRAKE….SET
- THRUST LEVERS….IDLE
- FLAPS….RETRACTED
- SPEEDBRAKE….RETRACTED
- WIPERS….OFF
- BATTERY SWITCH….ON
- EXTERNAL POWER….CONNECTED & ON
- ADIRU….ON
- PRIM FLIGHT COMPUTERS….AUTO, GRD CLOSED
- THRUST ASYMM COMPENSATION….AUTO
- APU GEN SWITCH….ON
- IFE/PASS SEATS….ON
- CABIN/UTILITY….ON
- L + R BUS TIE SWITCHES….AUTO
- L + R GENERATOR CONTROL SWITCHES….ON
- BACKUP GENERATOR SWITCHES….ON
- NAV LIGHTS….ON
- EXTERIOR LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- COCKPIT LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- EMERG EXIT LIGHTS….ARMED, GRD CLOSED
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWITCHES….AUTO
- FMC….INIT POSITION
2. COCKPIT PREPERATION
- WINDOW HEAT….ON
- PRIMARY L + R ENG HYDR PUMPS….ON
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- L-C1-C2-R DEMAND HYDR PUMP SELECTORS….OFF
- NO SMOKING SIGNS….AUTO/ON
- SEAT BELTS SIGNS….AUTO/ON
- EEC MODE SWITCHES….NORM
- ENGINE START SELECTORS….NORM
- AUTOSTART SWITCH….ON
- LEFT FWD FUEL PUMP….ON (PRESS-LIGHT OFF)
- ANTI-ICE AS….REQUIRED
- EQUIP COOLING….AUTO
- GASPER SWITCH….ON
- RECIRC FANS….ON
- FTL DECK TEMP CNTROLS….AS REQUIRED
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWITCHES….AUTO
- L + R TRIM AIR SWITCHES….ON
- L-C-R ISOLATION VALVES….AUTO
- ENG + APU BLEED AIR….ON / AUTO
- PRESSURIZATION PANEL….SET / AUTO
- ATIS….RECIEVED
- FMC….PROGRAMM
- MCP….IAS – HDG – ALT SET
- F/D….ON
- A/T CHECK….ARMED
- LNAV….AS REQUIRED
- VNAV….AS REQUIRED
- FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS SET….NO FLAGS
- AUTOBRAKE….RTO
- COMM / AUDIO PANEL….SET
- TRANSPONDER / TCAS….SET / TEST
- AILERON + RUDDER TRIM….SET 0 UNITS
- TAKEOFF BRIEFING….COMPLETE
3. BEFORE START
- DOORS CLOSED….(CHECK DOOR PAGE)
- APU SELECTOR….START >ON
- GROUND EQUIPMENT….DISCONNECTED
- R ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….AUTO
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….ON
- L ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….AUTO
- C1 + C2 AIR DEMAND HYDR PUMPS….AUTO
- L + R FUEL PUMPS ALL….ON
- L + R CENTER FUEL PUMPS….AS REQUIRED
- PASSENGER SIGNS….ON
- BEACON….ON
- RECALL….PUSH
4. ENGINE START
- ENGINE AREA….CLEAR
- SEC DISPLAY UNIT….ENGINE
- ENGINE START….ANNOUNCE
- ENGINE 1 START….SELECTOR START
- ENGINE 1 FUEL CONTROL LEVER….RUN
- ENGINE 2 START SELECTOR….START
- ENGINE 2 FUEL CONTROL LEVER….RUN
5. BEFORE TAXI
- L + R GENERATORS….ON (LIGHTS OFF)
- APU SELECTOR….OFF
- ENG START SELECTORS….NORM
- L + R PACK CONTROL SWTCHS….AUTO (LIGHTS OFF)
- L-C-R ISOLATION VALVES….AUTO (LIGHTS OFF)
- ENG BLEED AIR….ON (LIGHTS OFF)
- FLAPS SET….CONFIRM
- STABILIZER TRIM SET….UNITS
- FLIGHT CONTROLS….FREE AND CORRECT
- RECALL….CHECK
- LOWER DISPLAY UNIT….OFF
- ANTI-ICE….AS REQUIRED
- TAXI LIGHTS….ON
6. TAXI
- TAXI TO ASSIGNED RUNWAY….SPEED MAX. 20 KNOTS
- BRKS/GYRO/TURN COORDINATOR….CHECK DURING TAXI
7. BEFORE TAKE OFF
- PARKING BRAKE….SET
- CABIN LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- FLIGHT INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- ENGINE INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- TAKE-OFF DATA….(V1, VR, V2)CHECK
- NAV EQUIPMENT….CHECK
8. AFTER TAKE OFF
- POSITIVE RATE OF CLIMB….GEAR UP
- AUTO-BRAKE….OFF
9. CLIMBOUT
- AUTOPILOT….ENGAGE (WHEN SUITABLE)
- ALTIMETER….SET STD (29.92 / 1013)
- BELOW 10’000FT….MAX. 250 KIAS
- ABOVE 10’000FT LANDING LIGHTS, RUNWAY TURNOFF LIGHTS, LOGO LIGHT, WING LIGHTS….OFF
- ABOVE 10’000FT FASTEN SEAT BELTS….OFF
10. CRUISE & DESCENT PREPERATION
- ENGINE & INSTRUMENTS….CHECK
- FUEL QUANTITY….CHECK
- LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- SEAT BELTS….ON
- ATIS / AIRPORT INFORMATION….CHECK
- ALTIMETER….CHECK
- RADIOS….SET
- RESET MCP ALTITUDE….CHECK
- FMC APPR SPEED REF….SET
- LOCALIZER FREQ….SET
11. DESCENT
- ANTI-ICE….AS REQUIRED
- LANDING ALT….CHECK
- RECALL….CHECK
- RADIO ALT / BARO MIN….SET / CHECK
- AUTO BRAKE….AS REQUIRED
- APPROACH BRIEFING….COMPLETE
- ALTIMETER….RESET TO LOCAL
- LANDING LIGHTS….ON
- PASSENGER SINGS….ON
12. APPROACH
- ALTIMETER….CHECK
- LOCALIZER FREQ….CHECK
- LOCALIZER COURSE….CHECK
- APPRCH….ARM
- GLIDESLOPE ALIVE….GEAR DOWN
- FLAPS….AS REQUIRED
- SPEED BRAKE….ARM
- LANDING FLAPS….SET
13. AFTER LANDING
- TRANSPONDER….STANDBY
- FLAPS….RETRACT
- SPEED BRAKES….DOWN
- LANDING LIGHTS….OFF
- STROBE LIGHTS….OFF
- TAXI LIGHTS….ON
- CABIN LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- ANTI ICE….AUTO / OFF
- APU SELECTOR….ON
- AUTO-BRAKE….OFF
- RWY TURNOFF LIGHTS….OFF
- APU GEN….START / CHECK VOLTS
14. PARKING / SHUTDOWN
- PARKING BRAKES….SET
- ENGINE FUEL CONTROL LEVERS….CUTOFF
- GROUND CONTACT….ESTABLISH
- GROUND OPERATIONS….AS REQUIRED (FMC)
- PASSENGER SIGNS….OFF
- BEACON LIGHT….OFF
- C1 + C2 AIR DEMAND HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- L ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….OFF
- PRIMARY C1 + C2 ELEC HYDR PUMPS….OFF
- R ELEC DEMAND HYDR PUMP….OFF
- FUEL PUMPS….ALL OFF
- FLIGHT DIRECTOR….OFF
- APU SELECTOR….AS REQUIRED
- EXTERIOR LIGHTS….AS REQUIRED
- DOORS….OPEN
