So many numbers...
OK, first post here, so please be gentle.
This may have been answered elsewhere, I've tried searching and not found anything, although that might be my searching skills.
Basically, why are there so many numbers when it comes to aircraft types?
When I was a kid, I knew, through my parents, that you had Airbus and ou had Boeing, they were the two main aircraft makers.
Then when I was older I learnt about the numbers, so 727, 737, 747, A320, A330 etc. Although it still confuses me that a 747 is bigger than a 757 but there you go...
Now, at 22, something puzzles me. Why have I seen reference to say, a 737-800 (might even have that wrong) and a -300 say? What's the difference? Same with the A319, A320 and A321 with Airbus. Are there big differences that I, as a passenger would notice? Or is it smaller stuff?
This probably does fall in to the category of stupid questions, and for that, I'm very sorry.