It may seem obvious to anyone who has spent a lot of time around planes. But for others, identifying the aircraft may not be as easy. With many Boeing and Airbus aircraft taking similar shapes overall and competing models with similar sizes, how can you tell the difference between a Boeing aircraft and an Airbus?
Before you start, it should be noted that there is no distinctive feature running through ALL airbus or ALL Boeing aircraft. It really depends on the size of the jet and can also vary by generation. Sometimes even the same model can have different wings, as winglets are sometimes an additional option.
The easiest jets
For most people, the easiest aircraft to distinguish are the biggest commercial passenger offerings from Boeing and Airbus: the 747 and the A380, respectively. Both are huge, have four engines, and have two decks. However, that’s where the similarities end.
The dead giveaway is the iconic 747 ‘hump’, be it an old 747-400 or the new 747-8, the top deck only runs mid-fuselage (although the -8’s top deck is longer). The A380, on the other hand, has a top cover that runs the length of the fuselage, from nose to tail.
The spoilers for these jumbos are also unique. The 747-400 has a short, angled (“angled”) fin while the A380 has a vertical / 90-degree wingtip that extends up and down (it’s much easier to show in a photo than to describe it! with words!) The 747-8 doesn’t really have winglets at all, but rather a slanted wingtip. Its four engines have gondolas with jagged edges.
Widebody twinjets
For wide-body twin-engine jets, it’s not that easy, but there are still some easy tricks. The 787’s nose is quite unique in its roundness and the way it integrates seamlessly into the cabin. The Dreamliner also has no fins, but raked wings that bend significantly upwards. The 787 is currently the only wide-body twinjet that has the various GEnx engines with serrated gondolas (as seen with the 747-8).
Like the 787, the 777 lacks ailerons and can be identified by the way its fuselage reaches a square end at the rear. The 777 also has six wheels for each main landing gear. The Boeing 767 can be clearly identified as the only wide body with fins that curve with an “L” curve. Unfortunately, not all 767s have this.
The ‘classic’ A330 is distinguished by its ‘sloping’ fins, this is something you will also see with the much smaller A220. It is the same type of winglet that you will see on the 747, but there are enough other distinctive features with the 747 that there will be no confusion between the two.
The A350 and A330neo have quite different spoilers that gracefully curve from the wing without sharp angles. The A350s fins curve slightly more. The two wide cockpit cabins of both aircraft have a dark border / frame around the windows that are not seen with Boeing aircraft.
Narrow body jets
For narrow bodies, it can be a little more difficult, especially with a wide range between generations of 737s and also various options from the A320 family.
The 737’s nose looks quite different, coming to a far more important point than any A320 family aircraft. The A320 family of aircraft has much more rounded noses.
The 737’s cab side windows are also angled at the bottom, which also carries through all generations. The new 737s have a unique split scimitar fin not found on any Airbus aircraft.
Many Boeing 737s and Airbus A321s have combined wingtips, and therefore may not be the best feature to help distinguish aircraft. The nose is probably the best feature to distinguish the two manufacturers.
Hopefully this gives you a basic introduction to the most remarkable unique physical characteristics of certain Airbus and Boeing aircraft.
Did we miss something? How do you notice the difference between Airbus and Boeing aircraft? Let us know in the comments!
