Spot the difference - Airline Jets
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: S089
Spot the difference - Airline Jets
Hi,
I am looking at photos at !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. and when i travel, i try to distinquish if a jet that i am looking is a particular model. here are a few that i always get mixed up. Please point me any hints:
B739, B756, B767, B777, A320, A319
any pointers as to where and what to look for? winglets? nose?
cheers,
nelson
I am looking at photos at !!!!!!!!!!!!!!. and when i travel, i try to distinquish if a jet that i am looking is a particular model. here are a few that i always get mixed up. Please point me any hints:
B739, B756, B767, B777, A320, A319
any pointers as to where and what to look for? winglets? nose?
cheers,
nelson
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: The frequency jungle
B756
As for the others:
B739 is just verryyyyy looong
A320 and A319 is only easy when they are parked next to each other. Even easier if an A321 is also close by.
B777 is just big! Easy to spot.
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: No Fixed Abode
I'm no expert
If it's all very round, it's an Airbus.
If it's more like a squashed oval, it's Boeing.
B756, no idea, unless mistaken for B736?
Haha reminds me of my earlier days when listening to ATC and Emeralds reporting they were '748s.' 747-800s, I didn't know they exsisted
If it's all very round, it's an Airbus.
If it's more like a squashed oval, it's Boeing.
B756, no idea, unless mistaken for B736?
Haha reminds me of my earlier days when listening to ATC and Emeralds reporting they were '748s.' 747-800s, I didn't know they exsisted
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: UK
Airbus
126,7
A318 very short one emergency exit above wing. Taller tail than all the others. Tail extends above rudder
A319 One emergency exit (Unless it's an Easyjet then 2 due to passenger loads)
A320 2 emergency exits over wing. Older 320's don't have winglets
A321 No exits over wing but 4 doors down the side. Very Long.
767 or 777
777 Three wheels in a row on main undercarriage, 2 on 767 and 777 has flat tailcone, 767 pointed.
A318 very short one emergency exit above wing. Taller tail than all the others. Tail extends above rudder
A319 One emergency exit (Unless it's an Easyjet then 2 due to passenger loads)
A320 2 emergency exits over wing. Older 320's don't have winglets
A321 No exits over wing but 4 doors down the side. Very Long.
767 or 777
777 Three wheels in a row on main undercarriage, 2 on 767 and 777 has flat tailcone, 767 pointed.
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From: California USA
Haha reminds me of my earlier days when listening to ATC and Emeralds reporting they were '748s.' 747-800s, I didn't know they exsisted
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From: Wet Coast
not getting a lot of BAe/HS748s on this side of the pond...
Up here we just call them 'Hawkers'. Not to be confused with a Hawkerjet (aka 125).
Biggest chuckle I had was the first time I heard a US controller refer to a 'Bark One-eleven'. Woof.
Up here we just call them 'Hawkers'. Not to be confused with a Hawkerjet (aka 125).
Biggest chuckle I had was the first time I heard a US controller refer to a 'Bark One-eleven'. Woof.

Joined: May 2001
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From: Frankfurt, Germany
An easier way to recognise the 737-900 (apart from it being very long) is to look for the "squashed" engines. The 737 is close to the ground compared to the Airbus - a throwback to the days of the 737-200 with its low bypass engines.
See here
See here
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: socal
The ones I have found hardest to distinguish are the 767-300/400s from the 777s, but i found you can tell them apart easily by looking at the engines and the tails. On a 777, the tail extends a bit farther out beyond the vertical stabilizer and has a distinctly squared-off end. Also, the engines of a 777 have a very short exhaust cone and a very large nacelle (main engine cover).
I beleive that the only way to tell apart the A319s and A320s is to know that the A319 is 13ft. shorter.
If by "756" you mean 757, then i can tell you that a 757 looks like an long, skinny version of the 767 (although it is actually 4ft. shorter than the 767).
I beleive that the only way to tell apart the A319s and A320s is to know that the A319 is 13ft. shorter.
If by "756" you mean 757, then i can tell you that a 757 looks like an long, skinny version of the 767 (although it is actually 4ft. shorter than the 767).

Joined: Aug 2002
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From: London
<<<
An easier way to recognise the 737-900 (apart from it being very long) is to look for the "squashed" engines. The 737 is close to the ground compared to the Airbus - a throwback to the days of the 737-200 with its low bypass engines.
>>>
Just be a bit careful on the "squashed engine" thing. The original CFM-56 737s had even more squashed engines, ie. the 737-300, -400, -500. The NG series of 737s (-600, -700, -800, -900) have slightly less squashed engines and can be distinguished by this feature with great care with a good view.
However, the real spotting challenge remains distinguishing the 737-300 from the 737-700, the 737-500 from the 737-600, and the 737-400 from the 737-800 / -900.
As always with spotting aircraft types, it helps to know which carriers operate which types, as this narrows down options considerably, ie. easyJet do not operate A320s, so all their Airbuses are therefore A319s, despite the double overwing exit doors..... But I grant, distinguishing a KLM 737-400 or -800 or -900 is often tough.
In other respects, distinguishing the A319/A320/A321 is pretty easy when you get the exit door configurations understood. The A318, though, is a little tricky vis-a-vis the A319 - look for the taller vertical stabilizer.
An easier way to recognise the 737-900 (apart from it being very long) is to look for the "squashed" engines. The 737 is close to the ground compared to the Airbus - a throwback to the days of the 737-200 with its low bypass engines.
>>>
Just be a bit careful on the "squashed engine" thing. The original CFM-56 737s had even more squashed engines, ie. the 737-300, -400, -500. The NG series of 737s (-600, -700, -800, -900) have slightly less squashed engines and can be distinguished by this feature with great care with a good view.
However, the real spotting challenge remains distinguishing the 737-300 from the 737-700, the 737-500 from the 737-600, and the 737-400 from the 737-800 / -900.
As always with spotting aircraft types, it helps to know which carriers operate which types, as this narrows down options considerably, ie. easyJet do not operate A320s, so all their Airbuses are therefore A319s, despite the double overwing exit doors..... But I grant, distinguishing a KLM 737-400 or -800 or -900 is often tough.
In other respects, distinguishing the A319/A320/A321 is pretty easy when you get the exit door configurations understood. The A318, though, is a little tricky vis-a-vis the A319 - look for the taller vertical stabilizer.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: UK
If you want to distinguish an easyJet -300 from a -700 then look at the flap track fairings. All the -700's are painted orange, they are grey on the -300's.
Happy spotting!
Happy spotting!
Last edited by The Greaser; 7th January 2005 at 09:54.
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From: Europe
A318 and A319, apart from the length and fin height.
If you can see the lower nose area, the A318 has a couple of small strakes by the nose gear doors. In fact, even if you cannot see the lower nose area, the strakes are still there! The A319 does not have them.
Should I try to get out a bit more?
If you can see the lower nose area, the A318 has a couple of small strakes by the nose gear doors. In fact, even if you cannot see the lower nose area, the strakes are still there! The A319 does not have them.
Should I try to get out a bit more?
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Horsham UK
How to tell a 737-500 from a -600 or a -700 from a -300?
Look at the engines the -7 series CFM56s as found on the NG '37s has got a little sticky out bit at the back end also the nacelle is a bit longer...
Look at the engines the -7 series CFM56s as found on the NG '37s has got a little sticky out bit at the back end also the nacelle is a bit longer...
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Europe
Hi J Davey,
Be careful, some airlines have got Airbus to delete the bulk door from their A320s; Northwest to name one. Basically the bulk door is needed if the container system is fitted in the aft hold but if the container is not in the door area then you can get to the bulk area through the big aft lower deck door.
Be careful, some airlines have got Airbus to delete the bulk door from their A320s; Northwest to name one. Basically the bulk door is needed if the container system is fitted in the aft hold but if the container is not in the door area then you can get to the bulk area through the big aft lower deck door.
Bear Behind

Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Canadia, the French bit
73 classic and 73NG - doesn't work if you're looking at a photo, only if it's live, but the NG has synchronised strobe beacons on top and bottom of the fuse - i.e. they flash together. The classics aren't synchronised so don't flash together.
Main diff A319 to A320 is the overwing exit as already mentioned, except for easyJet. I guess with more low costs taking A319s, though, that may well change and more will appear with double overwings.
Main diff A319 to A320 is the overwing exit as already mentioned, except for easyJet. I guess with more low costs taking A319s, though, that may well change and more will appear with double overwings.
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: uk
Engine differences
If the cowlings are open and there are a bunch of oily rags standing around it, scratching their heads, thats a GE90 .
The initial batch of BA 777s powered by GE didn't get the nickname Trouble Seven for no reason......
The initial batch of BA 777s powered by GE didn't get the nickname Trouble Seven for no reason......







