Does anyone have a pointer to a good reference site with the "common" aircraft? I've been flying for several years and still don't know the difference between a DC9-30,40,50 vs. 727 vs. MD80 vs. etc....

The DC-9/MD80/717 are all fundamentally the same aircraft/airframe and are very easy to recognize with their two small tail mounted turbine engines.

The 727 is actually very different; it has three tail mounted engines. You probably don't see these very often.

You should play on airliners.net and check out the photos for a while.

It's pretty easy to distinguish between a 737, 757, 767, 777 etc and then you can start working on the A319, A320, etc.

Then take on the smaller, private planes. Have fun.

It's just like face recognition, it's hard to describe, you just have to study it.

Engine location used to be a good place to start. You need to look at pictures. 727 (3 in the back), MD-80 (2 in the back), 737 (2 on the wing).

Nose contour is another way. 737 have the pointy nose with eyelid windows in the cockpit. A320's have a more roundish nose with no eyelid windows. Among wide bodies, look at the Airbus windows, they are tall and angular vs. the 777 and 767.

DC-9 vs. MD-80. That's harder. Look at the length, shape of the tail (graceful line in the DC-9 versus and angle near the top of the vertical stabilizer in the MD-80).

Odd planes that are no longer flown, such as the Dassault Mercure, Vickers VC-10, Convair 880 (Elvis' plane), VFW-Fokker 614, Trident; just look it up on the internet.

Sorry, the RAF still fly the VC-10. If you want to see one in the air drive about 1 hour west from London Heathrow along the M4 motorway and you can see them in the training pattern from RAF Lyneham, over the motorway west of Swindon, most weekdays.

They're like an MD-80 on steroids.

A quick google search found "airplane spotting" playing cards for WWII but nothing for newer aircraft. I did a quick check at Amazon.com and found no books that were relevant, either.

I have to think that there is a pocket book out there somewhere with the info you're looking for.

Maybe Janes.com? I'll go check there next...

Here's an expensive solution: (It looks pretty cool though!)

http://catalog.janes.com/catalog/pub...&product_id=89

Airliners.net is pretty nice. I see a lot of the NW planes described as DC9-32's though. I thought they were DC9-300's, 400's, and 500's though? At least according to the safety sheets in the seat back pockets...

The Pocket Guide to Commercial Aircraft and Airline Markings (Hamlyn Guide)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...672836-1651951


...and many more from Amazon.

I've got a friend who worked with one of the airlines on its financial plans. She now recognizes a lot of the planes by their tail numbers, and knows a bit about the history, like:

"That plane's engine was lost for three months."

d

You coulg get this book:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books

*Vital Guide to Commercial Aircraft and Airliners

I used to keep a copy of it in my flight bag when I first started taking flying lessons. It came in handy the first time ground control asked me to follow the CRJ...

Oh, you're correct. The Luftwaffe may still be flying the VFW-Fokker 614, too.

Next time I am in the UK, I might visit the area near RAF Lyneham. Thank you for the suggestion.

I feel like a moron for missing this in my search. In my defense, I was trying to participate in a conference call at the same time. Anyway, this looks like a cool book. I just ordered it and when it arrives, I'll post a quick review.

There's also a laminated card that they sell in places like airport bookstores which my wife got me a few years back with the major airliners and what to look for to tell them apart... I think she thought she was making fun of my planespotting obsession, but I thoght it was pretty cool :-)

The way I resolve the Airbus vs. 737 is by the little winglets at the end of the wing for the Airbus, and then count window exits to tell between 319 and 320 (don't see many 321's where I am). 737 I tell by the little ridge thing in front of the tail... (at least for the later models)

Dan

How about the difference between a 757 and a 767? Size is hard to gauge when one is alone on the runway, and I can't figure an easy way to tell them apart...

757s just look narrow, and look at the nose. The nose seems to be lower (to centre) than the 767 (that's why the 757 flight deck floor is a few steps below the main deck).