There are several aircraft manufacturers around the world and most offer various different plane types for airlines to buy. The reason for this is that some are built for long flights, others for short flights and so on. This allows airlines to match capacity with demand.
Frequent flyers are generally very familiar with the various types, as some offer a better experience than others. This is mainly down to how a particular airline arranges their cabin and everyone has their personal preference.
Different Plane Types
At University during a ‘get to know you’ type exercise, we were asked how many different plane types we had flown on. Being slightly older than some of the other students, I managed to win that particular question in the session. So just what have I been on?
For Airbus, I have been on the Airbus A300B4-203, A300-600, A310-300, A318, A319, A320-200, A320-200neo, A321, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340-300, A350-900 and the Airbus A380. There are some missing, but I am not planning to chase them.
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- I will always remember these flights!
When it comes to Boeing, the list is almost as comprehensive. Boeing 717-200, 727-200 Advanced, 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, 737-700, 737-800, 747-100, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400ER, 757-200, 767-200, 767-300, 777-200, 777-200LR, 777-300ER, 787-8 and 787-9. Phew!
My first flight was on a Fokker F28-4000, I’ve flown in the Dash 8-100 and the Q400, a Cessna Caravan, Douglas DC-10-10 and DC-10-30, the MD-11, various MD-80s, the CRJ 200 and CRJ 900, plus the Embraer E145, E170, E175, E190 and E195, and finally the ATR42 and ATR72.
So Which One Was Best?
Some aviation fans tend to say that one aircraft is better than another, usually for some arbitrary reason. Personally, there are only a few planes that are notably different from others and that’s solely because technology is better.
When I first travelled on an Airbus A380, the quietness of the cabin stood out compared to other aircraft. This trend continued with the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, which also have great sound proofing and quieter engines. That’s just technological progress really.
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- I’m certainly nuts about this!
Cabin comfort wise, it depends completely on what seats the airline chooses, such as the Qatar Airways business class seat above. I personally have not noticed the difference between a 17″ seat width and a 17.5″ seat width, so conclusions that X aircraft is better because it is 5″ wider than the competition are meaningless to me.
Quite frankly, I have enjoyed almost all of my flights, so I couldn’t choose a favourite. Friendly cabin crew and a nice seat are important, moreso than the actual aircraft itself. Though, that being said, where possible I do try to fly on board something I have not experienced yet. That’s the aviation geek in me!
Overall Thoughts
While you may think I have been on quite a lot of different aircraft, my list does pale compared to certain other people who make it a mission to get on board everything they can. Even so, I think I’ve done alright. It does make me sad when I have missed flying on something as it is no longer in the air. I have always wanted to fly on a Vickers VC10 for example, but that will never happen now.
How many different plane types have you flown on? I’d be interested to hear that, along with any you particularly liked or disliked. Thank you for reading and please leave any comments or questions below.
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Featured image by Josh Methven on Unsplash.
Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 via Cathay Pacific.
Qatar Boeing 777-200LR by Darren Koch via Wikimedia Commons.
United Douglas DC-10 by GeorgeM757 on Flickr.
In my 80 years i have flown on over 100 types of aircraft. The best by a mile was the VC 10. The first was 1950 a DH Rapide from Prestwick I was hooked. Worst Airbus 380 cattle truck in the sky.followed by 777.even the stewardess on the 380 who I had a long conversation said a lot of the cabin crew did not like it. Best flight business class Heathrow to Melbourne Royal Brunei 7 star hotel in the sky.
You have certainly managed a great deal of aircraft, which is just brilliant. Really happy to hear you liked the Vickers VC10 the most. I’ve heard nothing but excellent things about the passenger experience on that one. I wish I’d had the opportunity to fly on one myself. Royal Brunei is one of those quality airlines that fly under the radar – I’ve heard they’re very good. I aspire to have had as many flying experiences as you, so here’s hoping I make it! Thanks so much for the comment!
737- 700, 800, 900
767- 200, 300ER
Erj 175
Erj 190
Crj-700
Cessna 208 caravan
Cessna 172
Hawker 700
Hawker 800
Challenger 604
A319
A320-200
A321- 100, 200
MD-82
A pretty decent list there! Thanks for sharing that! 🙂
I was going to fly on a max 8 but it got changed to a 767 before I left for saint martin since Canada grounded them
There’ll be plenty of chances to fly on those in future though!
747 200, 300, 400, SP
737 200, 700, 800, 900
757
727
A300
A319
A320
A330
Piper Cub
ATR72
Very nice list there! I haven’t been on the 747-200 or the SP, nor the 737-200 or 900, so you have some experience there that I don’t have. Thanks for sharing that!
The 747-200 and SP were amongst the first international trips we had taken back in 1989. We flew Pan Am. Sadly due to the idicoy of youth I did not save the boarding passes 🙁
I have the same problem, my original airline ticket from my first flight has also been lost over time. Such a shame!
Well, here goes nothing. Trying to keep it simple in regards to variants and I will undoubtedly miss something:
A319
A320
707
717
720
727
737-200/300/700/800/900
747-100/200
757
767-300
DC-3
DC-8-72
DC-9-10/30/40/50
MD-80/88/90
L-1011-200
EMB-120
EMB-145
CRJ-200/700/900
FH-227B
Trident
Caravelle
Vanguard
That’s probably pretty comprehensive for scheduled airline flights. Flew in a few sightseeing helicopters and once in a small Cessna.
You have the list I wish I had. Things like the Trident, Caravelle, Canguard, L-1011 and so on are things I wish I had done and didn’t manage to do. I have also flown on one helicopter (which is fun!) and two different other types for private flights. Really nice list there – thanks for sharing that!
And I knew I would forget something:
Dash 8-300
EMB 175
Haha hey, even I did in the original post, so I won’t hold it against you!
I’ve been super fortunate to fly a wide variety of types. I’ve flown: A300B4 A318 A319 A320 A321 A330-300 A340-300 A340-500 A340-600 A350-900 A380 B707-320C B720 B720B B727-100 B727-200 B737-200 B737-300 B737-400 B737-500 B737-600 B737-700 B737-800 B737-900 B737MAX8 B747-100 B747-200 B747-300 B747-400 B757-200 B757-300 B767-200 B767-300 B767-400 B777-200 B777-300 B787-8 Bae 146-200 Beechcraft 1900 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Cessna 340 CRJ100 CRJ200 CRJ700 CRJ900 DC-10-10 DC-10-30 DC-10-40 DC-2 DC-3 DC-8-61 DC-9-31 DC-9-50 DHC Dash 7 DHC Dash 8-100 DHC Dash 8-200 DHC Dash 8-300 EMB 120 Brasilia ERJ145 ERJ170 ERJ190 Fokker 100 Fokker 70 Fokker F.27 Fokker F.28 4000 Grumman… Read more »
That is an awesome list there – you’ve been on some really classic aircraft. I’d have loved to have been on a Boeing 707, not to mention any L-1011! You also reminded me that I missed the Avro RJ as I’ve been on those with both Brussels Airlines and CityJet. Excellent list you have there – I mean, how many people have a Douglas DC-2 on their list! Thanks very much for the comment!