How do the photographers know the order

[Lan Ding Gere]

Hi guys,

I am becomming more of a plane spotter as the weeks go on.

I posted a question earlier with regards to a Boeing 747-436. I know there was a 400 series but not a 436. Anyways, I was advised that the the 4 is the 400 series and the 36 is the Boeing Customer Order Number.

However, if the photographers show that the airline is for example J8 (Sudan Airways), we know that the plane was ordered by a different company, but how do the photographers know who placed the order. As far as I am aware the only mention on the body of the aircraft is 737-400, where does it state the order number ? How do they know.

LDG

Once again, thanks guys

[5150]

I'm really showing my 'spotter'colours here; the customer order number can be found in they yearly publication of Civil Aircraft Markings which you can easily find in WHSmiths etc............

[Lan Ding Gere]

Thanks for your reply.

I have managed to get a list of Boeing customer numbers, but assuming a BA jet (36) was originally ordered by shall we say as an example cathay and the jet has the BA livery, how would one know who actually placed the order of that particular plane ?

I hope I haven't confused things too much

LDG

[ETOPS]

There's no mystery - just log on to any of the spotters websites and follow the links to one of the many aircraft databases. Look up a particular machine using it's current registration and lo and behold the full history of that aircraft is displayed. When manufactured, makers mark (oops no, thats whiskey) Makers serial number, model number and previous owners/registrations.

Try this Top 100 Aviation sites (www.avitop.com)

[World Traveller]

These Boieng codes all become a bit of an irrelevance after a couple of refits and resales. EG a Boeing 757-236 is built for BA, gets sold to DHL. becomes a 757-236F (or 236SF or whatever). yet what still identifies it as a '36'? Very little I guess. I assume some of 'it' is in the electronics etc. Take 777's - all BA ones 777-236, yet they have 2 different types of engine! Some 757-236 never even entered BA service and went straight to Air Europe, and gawd knows where from then on....... BA 757-236 have 2 different engines aswell, so there's very little 'unique' about Boeing codes.....

Airlines 'tend' to keep the same number, e.g. BA has had 707-436/737-236 & 436/747-136/236/436/757-236/767-336/777-236.

If the plane was originally ordered by Cathay, it would be a 747-467 (or 777-367 etc).

The aeroplane keeps its original code, so you end up with Virgin and Air Atlanta flying 747-267s. Just as Virgin has (leans over and gets spotters book) 747-443 (originally ordered by Alitalia) or 747-4Q8 (ILFC) or 747-219 (Air NZ) or 747-212 (Singapore Airlines).

Codes can be numeric, alpha-numeric or alpha-alpha.

Confused?

WT