Aircraft Recognition Book

[The_Steed]

Looking for recommendations on a book for my son. He is obsessed with Flight Radar, and loves leafing through my Aircraft book from about 20 years ago to see all the different types of aircraft. I’m looking for something a bit more modern as there aren’t that many Caravelle’s flying around any more!

So, something with lots of photos of the planes we are likely to see in the UK. Any ideas?

[Intruder]

I believe Janes All the World's Aircraft is updated regularly (every 2 years).
https://shop.janes.com/Yearbooks/All-the-World-s-Aircraft/

[treadigraph]

Jane's Recognition Guides might be a better and certainly a cheaper bet though I haven't looked at one for years. Like the Observers books on steroids.

[DaveReidUK]

Recent, up-to-date airliner recogniton books are like hens' teeth. Good luck trying to find an affordable one that includes, for example, the 787 and A350.

[treadigraph]

Just been looking on Amazon - you're right, nothing less than 10 years old as far as I could see...

[Heathrow Harry]

I believe Janes All the World's Aircraft is updated regularly (every 2 years).
https://shop.janes.com/Yearbooks/All-the-World-s-Aircraft/


Its' yearly and costs a fortune (hundreds of pounds) - and it's no use for identification as it weighs a ton and conctrates on aircraft being built now - I buy oneevery 10 years......

Their Recognition Guide is what you want but there is no date given for the next one

[The_Steed]

Thanks very much for all the info - much appreciated!

[Big Eric]

Looking for recommendations on a book for my son. He is obsessed with Flight Radar, and loves leafing through my Aircraft book from about 20 years ago to see all the different types of aircraft. I’m looking for something a bit more modern as there aren’t that many Caravelle’s flying around any more!

So, something with lots of photos of the planes we are likely to see in the UK. Any ideas?

Does he really need an aircraft recognition book for airliners?

If he just clicks on the aircraft icon on FR24 then the pane on the left will open (if using a PC or laptop), with a photo of that exact aircraft at the top (if a photo of it exists on the Jetphotos database).

Just click on the photo and a new tab will open with a full-screen photo from Jetphotos, who are linked to FR24.

Just a thought!

[DaveReidUK]

Does he really need an aircraft recognition book for airliners?

If he just clicks on the aircraft icon on FR24 then the pane on the left will open (if using a PC or laptop), with a photo of that exact aircraft at the top (if a photo of it exists on the Jetphotos database).

Just click on the photo and a new tab will open with a full-screen photo from Jetphotos, who are linked to FR24.

Just a thought!

Seems a rather long-winded way of deciding what kind of aircraft has just flown over your head. :O

[Big Eric]

Seems a rather long-winded way of deciding what kind of aircraft has just flown over your head. :O

The OP says that his son is obsessed with FR24, so it's a good alternative in the absence of an airliner recognition book if he's watching FR24 at the time.

[El Bunto]

I don't think there's a single reference book that will cover all your needs.

It's a real shame that Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory disappeared after Flight International bought them. It was an excellent contemporary reference and hella cheaper than Jane's.

Anyway, I'd suggest a two-pronged approach:

1. A second-hand copy of Airlife's General Aviation guide for lightplanes up to Islander size. Available for pennies on Amazon etc
2. Compiling an airliner recognition cheat-sheet from three-views available online. This is really the only way that you'll keep it up to date.

[DaveReidUK]

Compiling an airliner recognition cheat-sheet from three-views available online. This is really the only way that you'll keep it up to date.

Here's a good site for starters:

https://www.airlinerspotter.com/

[OntimeexceptACARS]

If its commercial, they all look the same these days anyway!

Just copy an A320 image, and stretch/shrink as required...... :}

[gingernut]

argh.....when plane spotting was fun. Caravelle's, B727's, B707's, all the "Tupolevs"

:-)

[Heathrow Harry]

argh.....when plane spotting was fun. Caravelle's, B727's, B707's, all the "Tupolevs"

:-)

But it made us deaf...............................

[Cymmon]

What? 1-11's, Trident, Mercure, VC10.