LoveField From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1027 times:
Greetings fellow airliner enthusiasts! Does anyone else feel as I do, that the "new-generation" of airliners are all looking alike? The A320 resembles the 737 and 757s which are smaller versions of the 767 which resembles the 777..etc..etc. And to take that issue a few steps further, most airlines seem to be adopting the all-white fuselage, large block, bill-board style letters leaving only the tail art to amuse and amaze the public. I don't mean to come off negative but I sure miss the 707,DC8,DC9..etc.. the differences in design, sounds, colors... and I miss the brightly decorated interiors of the past as well. Let me know your views on this subject.
Mit From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 166 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 991 times:
With regards to exterior structure, aircraft design is becoming a mature field. Presumably, there are a relatively few number of ideal shapes from a cost-efficiency point of view. Over a century of trial and error, aircraft designers have honed in on what those ideal designs are. It's like evolution. Think about the variation seen in the body structure of fish.
Barring a quantum technological leap to blended wings or something similarly bizarre, airliner design will become increasingly homogenous. It's a shame, but that's where the money is.
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50 Reply 2, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 18 hours ago) and read 964 times:
The A320 resembles the 737 as much as the DC-8 resembles the 707...
The 737 is NOT a smaller version of the 767, nor to a large extent is the 757.
As for paint schemes, I think there are quite a few nice ones out there. It is also reflective of modern culture and art.
I see you are new to airliners.net, so welcome! I am sure that as you dig deeper into the world of aviation, you will come to see how different individual aircraft are (heck if they were the same, we wouldnt have these damned A vs B wars all the time now would we!)
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
Dandy_don From United States of America, joined May 2000, 201 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 932 times:
I agree...that is why we all like the dc10, L1011, 727 and anything with 4 engines!!
I was originally named the MD-95 and that's my rightful name, as I'm closely related to the DC9/MD80/MD90 family, the best planes IMHO, wink wink. However one of those monopolizing seattle based companies took me over and renamed me! Anyway, I have engines mounted in the rear and a 'T-tail'! Some RJs kind of look like me too. I share your sentiments, but us twin jets are very economic. Remember about A340s, 747s, MD11s, Avros and some Russian planes though.
Christianbothe From Germany, joined Jan 2000, 124 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 902 times:
Yes, right...
I mean, talk about faces. This aircraft has a face that somehow looks like a pilot had to look like in old movies. It looks like being a really tough guy, having seen the world and some less comfortable parts of it, yet being a gentleman, knowing how to wear a tie and a uniform and being well-shaved:
This aircraft looks like people waiting for the tram in an old movie: They are there, but you almost don't notice them as they are nameless people, a grey mass without individuality:
RIX From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1785 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 876 times:
Welcome to the forum! Yes, almost all the airliners that are currently in production have the same configuration (as far as I understand, that is what you mean, so I'm not trying to explain you they are not the same ...). Actually, everything bigger than 717 is either 737/320/204/757/767/330/777 or 340/96/747/380. Less types and much less manufacturers than in, say, 60-s, and no more big props! Remember,
Midway DC9-10 From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 265 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 863 times:
Lovefield,
I had this same thought years ago when all the Airbus planes were being announced. I grew up in the 80's when we still had the wide variety of planes that had the t-tail, the four engines on the wings, and the trijets. I almost forgot the Convair 580's and many commuter props. I always liked to be able to see this type of variety. It is a shame that all the manufacturers are designing planes with an engine on each wing. Unfortunately, from a business standpoint I imagine there are reasons for this. Take as many pictures of the older planes as you can before it is too late.
CdfMXTech From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 1338 posts, RR: 29 Reply 8, posted (12 years 3 months 3 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 848 times:
I don't know about that (aircraft looking the same).
If any Boeing/Airbus aircrafts resemble one another it would be these pairs:
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christian
...). Actually, everything bigger than 717 is either 737/320/204/757/767/330/777 or 340/96/747/380. Less types and much less manufacturers than in, say, 60-s, and no more big props! Remember,
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