Aircraft types

[Dick H]

How do you people know the specific type of an aircraft? I can tell the difference between a 747-200 and a 747-400, I think, but I'm not too sure .

How do you know it is a 747-451 or a 747-412, etc. ?

[Kevin_Ho]

747-451 and 747-412 747-4 whatever are belong to 747-400.
Airlines design to fix the last two numbers so people can easily realise which airlines that particular aircraft belongs to.

EDITED:btw this is my guessing

[YBBN]

They are customer numbers designated when the aircraft is built. Here is the list.

20 to 99
20 - Boeing
21 - Pan American World Airways
22 - United Air Lines
23 - American Airlines
24 - Continental Airlines
25 - Eastern Airlines
26 - unknown
27 - Braniff Airways
28 - Air France
29 - SABENA
30 - Lufthansa
31 - Trans World Airlines (TWA)
32 - Delta Air Lines
33 - Air Canada
34 - Transair Sweden
35 - National Airlines
36 - BOAC / British Airways
37 - Air India
38 - Qantas
39 - Cubana
40 - Pakistan International Airlines
41 - Varig
42 - Nordair
43 - Alitalia
44 - South African Airways
45 - Seaboard World Airlines
46 - Japan Air Lines
47 - Western Air Lines
48 - Aer Lingus
49 - Flying Tiger Line
50 - Trek Airways
51 - Northwest Airlines
52 - Aeromexico
53 - United States Air Force
54 - Mohawk Airlines
55 - Executive Jet Aviation
56 - Iberia
57 - Swissair
58 - El Al
59 - Avianca
60 - Ethopian Airlines
61 - FAA
62 - Pacific Northern Airlines
63 - Ghana Airways (ntu) / Faucett
64 - Mexicana
65 - British Eagle
66 - United Arab Airlines / Egyptair
67 - Cathay Pacific Airways
68 - Saudia / Saudi Arabian Airlines
69 - Kuwait Airways
70 - Iraqi Airways
71 - Trans International / Transamerica
72 - Airlift International
73 - World Airways
74 - Iraqi Airways (ntu) / Libyan Arab (ntu)
75 - Pacific Western Airlines
76 - Trans Australian / Australian Airlines
77 - Ansett Airlines
78 - British West Indian Airways
79 - Saturn Airlines
80 - Bankers Trust (TWA)
81 - All Nippon Airways
82 - TAP - Air Portugal
83 - SAS
84 - Olympic Airways
85 - American Flyers
86 - Iran Air
87 - Aerolineas Argentinas
88 - unknown
89 - Toa Domestic / Japan Air System
90 - Alaska Airlines
91 - Frontier Airlines
92 - Air Asia / Southern Air Transport / Air America
93 - Pacific Air Lines / Air California
94 - Syrian Arab Airlines / Syrianair
95 - Northeast Airlines
96 - Quebecair
97 - Aloha Airlines
98 - Air Zaire
99 - Caledonian Airways / British Caledonian

01 to 19
01 - Piedmont
02 - Northern Consolidated / Wien Air Alaska
03 - Caribair
04 - Britannia Airways
05 - Braathens SAFE
06 - KLM - Royal Dutch Airlines
07 - Luftwaffe / West German Air Force
08 - Icelandair
09 - China Airlines
10 - Wien Colsolidated / Wien Air Alaska
11 - Wardair
12 - MSA / Singapore Airlines
13 - Ariana - Afghan Airlines
14 - Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA)
15 - Lake Central
16 - LAN Chile
17 - CP Air / Canadian International
18 - BEA
19 - NZ National Airways Corp / Air New Zealand

A0 to Z9
A0 - Lloyd Aereo Boliiviano (LAB)
A1 - VASP
A3 - Pluna
A4 - Air California
A6 - Essex International / LTV Capital
A7 - Trans Caribbean
A8 - Indian Airlines
A9 - Transair Canada
B1 - DETA Mozambique / LAM
B2 - Air Madagascar
B3 - UTA
B4 - MEA
B5 - Korean Air
B6 - Royal Air Maroc
B7 - Allegheny / USAir / US Airways
C0 - GATX / Boothe
C3 - Cruzeiro do Sul
C9 - Luxair
D1 - Universal Airlines
D3 - ALIA - Royal Jordanian Airlines
D4 - Ozark Airlines
D6 - Air Algerie
D7 - Thai Airways International
E0 - Dubai Air Wing (BBJ Customer)
E1 - Eastern Provincial
E3 - LADECO
E7 - Arkia - Israeli Airlines
F1 - Air New Zealand (ntu)
F2 - THY - Turkish Airlines
F5 - Government of Portugal / Portuguese Air Force
F6 - Philippine Airlines
F8 - Royal Nepal Airways
F9 - Nigeria Airways
G1 - Government of Saudi Arabia
G4 - United States Air Force
G5 - LTS / LTU
G7 - America West Airlines
H2 - ITT
H3 - Tunis Air
H4 - Southwest Airlines
H5 - Mey Air
H6 - Malaysian Airlines
H7 - Cameroon Airlines
H9 - JAT - Jugoslav Airlines
J0 - Air Jamaica
J1 - Dominicana
J4 - Sterling Airways
J6 - CAAC / Air China
J7 - National Aircraft Leasing
J8 - Sudan Airways
J9 - Iranian Air Force
K1 - Tarom / Romanian Government
K2 - Transavia / KLM
K3 - Aviogenex
K5 - Hapag Lloyd
K6 - SAHSA
K9 - Bavaria Flug
L4 - American Capital Aviation
L5 - Libyan Arab Airlines
L6 - Aviation Services & Support
L7 - Air Nauru
L8 - Government of Yugoslavia
L9 - Maersk Air
M0 - ARIA - Aeroflot Russian International Airlines
M1 - Pelita Air Service
M2 - TAAG - Angola Airlines
M6 - Royal Brunei
M7 - Hughes Air West
M8 - Trans European Airways
M9 - Zambia Airways
N0 - Air Zimbabwe
N1 - Government of Venezuela
N3 - Government of Brazil / Brazilian Air Force
N6 - Government of Nigeria
N7 - Government of Egypt
N8 - Yemen Airways
N9 - Government of Niger / Air Niger
P1 - Goverment of Qatar
P3 - HRH Talal bin Abdul Aziz (BBJ Customer)
P5 - Thai Airways
P6 - Gulf Air
Q2 - Air Gabon
Q3 - Southwest Air Lines / Japan TransOcean
Q4 - Transbrasil
Q5 - Government of Liberia / Air Liberia
Q6 - LACSA
Q8 - International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC)
Q9 - Itel Corp.
R1 - Government of Cameroon
R4 - Alyemda
R6 - Air Guinee
R7 - Cargolux Airline International
R8 - Air Tanzania
S1 - TACA International Airlines
S2 - Federal Express
S3 - GATX Flightlease Management
S4 - Air Afrique
S5 - Eldorado Aviation
S7 - North Central Airlines / Republic Airlines
S9 - Maritime Investment
T0 - Texas Air Corp / Continental Airlines
T2 - Dome Petroleum
T3 - Evergreen
T4 - Air Florida
T5 - Orion Airways
T7 - Monarch Airlines
T8 - Polaris Leasing
T9 - Boeing
U3 - Gaurda Indonesia
U4 - OSL Villa Holidays
U5 - Government of Jordan
U8 - Kenya Airways
U9 - Polynesian Airlines
V2 - TAME
V3 - COPA Airlines
V5 - Bahamasair
V6 - Petrolair Systems SA
V8 - Air Executive / Busy Bee
W0 - China Yunnan Airlines
W2 - Aerotour
W6 - Government of Morocco
W8 - NOGA Import
X2 - Air Pacific
X3 - Air Charter International
X4 - Supair
X6 - Markair
X8 - Wistair Corp
X9 - Indonesian Air Force
Y0 - GPA Group
Y4 - Rafic B Hariri (Saudi customer)
Y5 - Air Malta
Y9 - Air Malawi
Z0 - China Southwest
Z5 - United Arab Emirates Royal Flight
Z6 - Royal Thai Air Force
Z8 - South Korean Air Force
Z9 - Lauda Air

1A to 9Z
1A - Martinair Holland
1B - China Southern Airlines
1C - Government of Romania
1H - Emirates
1K - Airtours International Airways Ltd.
1L - China Xinjiang Airlines
1Q - Tombo Aviation Inc.
1R - Virgin Atlantic Airways
1S - Deutsche BA
1U - unidentified BBJ Customer
2A - Hawaiian Airlines
2C - Air UK Leisure
2J - Arab Leasing
2K - Turkmenistan Airlines / Akhal
2L - Azerbaijan Airlines
2Q - Ukraine International Airlines
2R - Pegasus Airlines
2T - unidentified BBJ Customer
2U - JABJ / Picton II Ltd. (BBJ Customer)
3A - Ansett Worldwide (AWWAS) / Nordstress Ltd.
3B - Air Mauritius
3C - Euralair International
3N - American Trans Air
3P - Uzbekistan Airways
3Q - Boeing (BBJ Customer)
3R - Western Pacific Airlines
3S - Pembroke Capital
3T - Real Estate Exchange Inc. (BBJ Customer)
3U - Chartwell Aircraft Company (BBJ Customer)
3V - Easyjet Airline Co Ltd.
4A - United Parcel Service - UPS
4K - Air Nippon
4N - China United Airlines
4P - Hainan Airlines
4Q - Mid East Jet
4S - GB Airways
4T - GECAS (BBJ Customer)
4U - Air Shamrock (BBJ Customer)
4V - unidentified BBJ Customer
5A - Presidential Airways
5B - Germania
5C - Xiamen Airlines
5D - LOT - Polish Airlines
5E - EVA Air
5F - GATX Capital Corp
5H - Itochu AirLease Corp.
5N - Shandong Airlines
5P - Air Europa
5R - Jet Airways (India)
5S - CSA - Czech Airlines
5T - First Union Commercial Corp. (BBJ Customer)
5U - Dobro Ltd. (BBJ Customer)
5V - General Electric Corporation (BBJ Customer)
6B - Cal Air / Novair International Airways
6D - Shanghai Airlines
6E - VIVA Air
6J - Air Berlin
6M - Virgin Express
6N - GE Capital Aviation (GECAS)
6Q - Boullion Aircraft Holding
6R - Wuhan Airlines
7A - Far Eastern Air Transport
7B - Air Holland
7C - Japanesse Self Defence Force
7D - Air Seychelles
7G - Malev - Hungarian Airlines
7K - Zhongyuan Airlines
7Q - Novel Leasing Company
7U - Atlas Air
8A - ILFC (RB.211 powered 757's only)
8B - Istanbul Airlines
8E - Asiana Airlines
8J - Tarom
8N - Chilean Air Force
8S - China Xinjiang Airlines
9A - ARAVCO
9D - Linjeflyg
9H - Leisure International
9J - Shorouk Air
9K - Shenzen Airlines
9L - Air China
9M - Air Austral
9N - Mid East Jet
9P - China Eastern Airlines
9R - Pro Air
9T - unidentified BBJ Customer
9U - Wilmot Trust company (BBJ Customer)

AA to ZZ
AB - AB Airlines
AD - Eastwind Airlines
AH - unidentified BBJ Customer
AK - Privitair (BBJ Customer)
AN - Saudi OGER (BBJ Customer)
AR - Taiwan Air Force
AS - Ryanair
AV - Newsflight II Inc. (BBJ Customer)
AW - unidentified BBJ Customer
AX - ARAMCO
BC - Boeing NetJets (BBJ Customer)
BD - AirTran Airways Inc.
BF - Funair Corp. (BBJ Customer)
BG - Flightlease AG
BH - unidentified BBJ Customer
BJ - Atlas Air (BBJ Customer)
BK - CIT Aerospace
BQ - GECAS
BS - North American Airlines
BX - Midway Airlines
CG - GKW Aviation LLC (BBJ Customer)
CJ - BBJ One Inc. (BBJ Customer)
CM - Aerolineas de Baleares Aebal
CN - Privatair (BBJ Customer)
CP - Ford Motor Company
CQ - JMC Airlines Limited
CU - Tutor-Saliba corp. (BBJ Customer)
DF - unidentified BBJ Customer
DM - unidentified BBJ Customer
DO - unidentified BBJ Customer
DP - unidentified BBJ Customer
DR - BBJ2 Customer / Multiflight
DT - unidentified BBJ Customer
DW - unidentified BBJ Customer
EA - Azteca Airlines
EC - unidentified BBJ2 Customer
ED - unidentified BBJ Customer
EJ - Grupo Omnilife S.A. de C.V. (BBJ Customer)

Remember that even if an aircraft is sold, it still retains it's original customer number. That is why Qantas has a few 747-4H6 (Malaysia Airlines) and 747-48E (Asiana Airlines).

[AJ]

This thread may help you:

http://www.jetphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?t=11338

[Dick H]

They are customer numbers designated when the aircraft is built. Here is the list.

Remember that even if an aircraft is sold, it still retains it's original customer number. That is why Qantas has a few 747-4H6 (Malaysia Airlines) and 747-48E (Asiana Airlines).

Thanks James. Subarashii desu!
I plan to be in Kumamoto on June 2 (via ferry from Shimabara). If by any coincidence you are up there maybe we could say hello.
I'll be there for only 3 or 4 hours, then back to Fukuoka and, eventually Tokyo. I'd love to see Kagoshima and Sakurajima again, but it's impossible to see everything in just 3 weeks.

[jwenting]

Remember that even if an aircraft is sold, it still retains it's original customer number. That is why Qantas has a few 747-4H6 (Malaysia Airlines) and 747-48E (Asiana Airlines).

It gets worse. Sometimes several airlines place an order together leading brandnew aircraft delivered to one to have the customer number of the other.
Thus KLMs 737-9K2 despite the fact that Transavia doesn't use 737-900s.
The aircraft were part of an order of 737 NG aircraft placed by KLM for Transavia which included -800 and -700 for Transavia and -800 and -900 for KLM.
I still wonder why they weren't all delivered with KLM customer numbers?
Other times an airline may cancel an order and the aircraft can then get delivered to another customer with the customer number of the airline that originally ordered it.
Example are the A320s Dutchbird received. Those were originally meant for SABENA but were never delivered because SABENA went bankrupt while the aircraft were in production.

[AJ]

Example are the A320s Dutchbird received. Those were originally meant for SABENA but were never delivered because SABENA went bankrupt while the aircraft were in production.

Fortunately Airbus don't use customer numbers, however the last two digits of the type would have indicated Sabena's engine and version choice.