The 747-300 first flew on 5 October 1982 and entered service in 1983. Its distinguishing feature was the stretched upper deck, which increased passenger capacity without lengthening the fuselage and gave the family its definitive silhouette.
It was a transitional version: with 81 built, it was soon eclipsed by the 747-400, which combined that same deck with a deep modernisation of systems and engines.