Originally Posted by
Amadis of Gaul
There seems to be a conflict between those two statements.
Please enlighten us about the conflict. The Op has indicated he has read a lot. He has also stated that the best he can (currently) do is differentiate between high wing, low wing and helicopter. Based on that, he's made a pretty good start.
Or how about you tell me, with just a glance, how to differentiate between a Cirrus and a Columbia? Or how about more common aircraft you probably come across on a day to day basis - let's say Cessna 182 v 172 - without looking at the naming on the plane, that is? And now, to make it all the more difficult, how differentiating about a 172 Reims Rocket from a C182?
I don't see any conflict between those two statements the OP made....