Intro to Boeing
Updated: Jun 4
Boeing is an Aircraft manufacturing company founded on July 15, 1916 in Seattle, Washington, United States. It has over 100 years of history. If you see a B-XXX on the safety card in your seat pocket, you are on a Boeing aircraft. Boeing uses a yoke in the cockpit to control the pitch and roll of the plane. Both Boeing and Airbus have trivial crash percentages. The fsixmost popular Boeing aircraft types today are the B737NG (next generation), B747, B757, B767, B777, and B787.
Below is a video of a B777 taking off. (TOGA thrust set at 0:17; rotation at 0:56)
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(Special Note Ahead: The "Chances of Boarding" estimate also takes account of passenger bookings and aircraft availability. Airlines receive the number of passengers in advance so they can arrange and dispatch aircrafts. )
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B737NG Family
The Boeing 737NG is a narrow body, twin-engine airliner first flown on February 9, 1997. Its variants are B737-600, B737-700, B737-800, and B737-900. In nowadays, over 10,000 737NGs are built. It is considered one of the safest airliner series in the world due to the large amount of 737's in the air. It owns the highest number of currently operating airliner. Chances are you will board on an 737NG airliner on domestic flights or short to medium distance flights.
Summary:
Narrow-body
Twin-engine
Variants: 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, 737-900 & -900ER, 737 MAX 8, MAX 9, MAX 10
Plane-spotting tip: One main gear on each wing; longer flashing strobe light than A320
Chances of Boarding: Domestic flights or short to medium distance flights
B747 Family
The Boeing 747 is a wide body, four-engine airliner first flown on February 9, 1969. Its variants are B747-400 and 747-8. B747 is used to fly long distance flights in the past, but the A380 and B777 are both taking its place. A special feature of the B747 is the huge hump in the front of the body. It's also named the "queen of the sky". Chances are you will board on an B747 if it's an long haul international flight (e.g. via Anchorage).
Summary:
Wide-body
Quad-engine
Variants: 747-200, 747-400, 747-400F, 747-8
Plane-spotting tip: Hump in the front. 747-400 has canted winglets; 747-8 has curved wingtips & uses GEnx engines
Chances of Boarding: long haul-flights
B757 Family
The Boeing 757 is a narrow body, twin-engine airliner first flown on February 19, 1982. Its variants are B757-200 and B757-300. It is especially popular among the US by airlines such as Delta, American, and United. Chances are you will board on an B757 if it's an domestic or international or transatlantic flight.
Summary:
Narrow-body
Twin-engine
Variants: 757-200 and 757-300
Plane-spotting tip: Longer fuselage, but not as wide; four wheels on each main gear
Chances of Boarding: domestic / international / transatlantic flights
B767 Family
The Boeing 767 is a wide body, twin-engine airliner first flown on September 26, 1981. Its variants are B767-200, B767-200ER (extended range), B767-300, B767-300ER, and B767-400ER. The B767 is Boeing's first wide-body twinjet ever made. It shares many features as the B757, so many pilots obtain a common type rating to fly both the B757 & B767. Chances are you will board on an B767 if it's an medium to long range international flight (e.g. Taipei to Heneda)
Summary:
Wide-body
Twin-engine
Variants: 767-200, 767-200ER, 767-300, 767-300ER, and 767-400ER
Plane-spotting tip: Wider than a 757
Chances of Boarding: medium to long range international flight
B777 Family
The Boeing 777 is a wide body, twin-engine airliner first flown on June 12, 1994. Its variants are B777-200, B777-200ER, B777-200LR (longer range), B777-300, B777-300ER (77W), and B777X. Despite some notorious crashes, the B777 is considered one of the safest airliner in the world. According to SOAR, B777 is the 2nd safe airliner (behind A340) that has a rate of one accident (which everyone survived) per eighteen-million hours of flying. Chances are you will board on an B777 if it's a long haul international flight. (e.g. Hong Kong to JFK)
Summary:
Wide-body
Twin-engine Variants: 777-200, 777-200ER, 777-200LR (longer range), 777-300, 777-300ER, and 777X
Plane-spotting tip: Twin-engine; 6 wheels on each main gear
Chances of Boarding: long haul international flights (e.g. HKG to JFK)
B787 Dreamliner Family
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a wide body, twin-engine airliner first flown on December 15, 2009. Its variants are B787-8, B787-9, and 787-10. The 787 is also famous for its LED lightings and a higher humidity inside the cabin, minimizing the chance of having headaches, fatigue, or dry skin. The B787 has no incidents and accidents at all currently despite some lithium battery problems. It has a curved wing, which makes its flight performance much more efficient. Chances are you will board on an B787 if it's an international flight or a long haul flight.
Summary:
Wide-body
Twin-engine
Variants: 787-8, 787-9, and 787-10
Plane-spotting tip: raked wingtips (curved); uses GEnx engines
Chances of Boarding: international flights or long haul flights