Klm744 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 112 posts, RR: 0 Posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 2650 times:
When it comes to 737's I can easily differentiate between a 737-200(because of the engines) and a 738 and 739 (they are much longer than the others), but I was wondering if there is a way to tell the difference between the ones in between the 732 and 738/739 such as the 733 and 735 etc purely by looking at their outside appearance. I often see 737s when spotting and would like to be able to tell what model it is. By the same token does is there a way to tell the difference between the various md-80s barring the dc-9 and 717 which are easily identifiable. Thanks.
Yyz717 From Canada, joined Sep 2001, 15989 posts, RR: 59 Reply 2, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2558 times:
Line up some pics of the 733/734/735.....you'll see the difference...then as you become familiar with the lengths, you'll be able to ID one easily.
The 736 and 737 (-700) have similar length to the 735 & 733 respectively...but with a much larger tail....indeed the 736 tail looks too damn big. Indeed, out of proportion to me.
Another way to differentiate is to know which airlines fly which.
Neil/Toronto
Panam, TWA, Ansett, Eastern.......AC next? Might be good for Canada.
Boeingmd82 From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 235 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 16 hours ago) and read 2527 times:
The B737-300 and B737-600NG look almost the same length, the tails are a good way to tell them apart as mentioned above. A good way to tell the difference between the "Classic" 737s and the "Next Gen" is that the engine nacelles are not as "squished" on the Next Gens as on the Classics. The longer legs of the Next Gen allows a rounder intake because of better ground clearance.
When it comes to the MD-80 variants, it's almost impossible to tell many apart because the changes are not external from model to model.
The MD-90 is pretty easy to spot, due to it's long skinny body and huge tail-mounted V2500 engines.
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6468 posts, RR: 8 Reply 6, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 2493 times:
Might as well go to boeing.com (or airliners.net?) and see how long each of the 737s are. Take a look at airliners.net photos and compare window counts on the 737s; the -400/-800/-900 have two overwing exits each side, the other 737s have one.
Viewed from the front the -700/-800/-900 lack the landing lights beneath the wing, on the flap tracks (though that's no help if the flaps are retracted). The bottom of the nacelle is more flattened on the -300/-400/-500 than on the later ones, but it's not a glaring difference. The big difference between the -600/-700/-800/-900 and earlier ones is the wingspan.
MD81/82/83/88 are externally identical AFAIK; the MD87 is of course shorter, and it's the only MD80 that has that extra bit of metal at the top of the fin, above the tailplane.
Dutchjet From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 7864 posts, RR: 58 Reply 8, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2467 times:
Regarding the 732, its easy because of the long JT8D engines.
Concering the 733/734/735: if it has 2 overwing exits, its a 734, I can distinguish the 733 from the 735 by counting the number of window between the foward door and the windowless airframe a bit before the wing, the 735 has less windows as it is shorter (the 735 is approx the length of the 732).
On to the 736/73G/738/739, its all a matter of length, the new family has the larger tail, as stated above, the 736 is similiar in size to the 735 and the 73G is the same as the 733, so the window count approach works (also there are very few 736s around so its easy), the 738 and 739 are simply much longer.
Concerning the MD80, its hard since the 81/82/83 are all the same externally and just about the same as the 88, the MD87 is shorter. The thing with the MD80 series is the tail cones, some aircraft have flat cones and other have the pointed ones, and it seems to be quite random, depending on when the aircraft was manufactured or it is was retrofitted, and not which type.
I thought this was as easy question: what is the difference between a 737 and an MD80 - just kidding, regards.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 9, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 2446 times:
The 737NGs have the pitot tube and AOA vane that used to be located directly under the cockpit window moved forward several feet. Almost to the radome. Also the nose gear door is closer to squared on the bottom.
As for the MD-81/82/83/88, you can't tell a difference without a tail number or knowing that a certain airline only operates 1 of the type.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Staffan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 2439 times:
The 737-400 has a small "hump" under the tail, I think it is in case the pilot decides to do some "ass-dragging", this protects the fuselage from beeing damaged, correct me if I'm wrong.
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 12, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 2388 times:
The 400,800 and 900 all have 2 overwing emergency exits. As for the tail skid, I've never noticed that. I'll take a look tomorrow.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
FBU 4EVER! From Norway, joined Jan 2001, 998 posts, RR: 7 Reply 13, posted (11 years 7 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2361 times:
The tail bumper is not present on the -500 and -600 models as their short fuselage length makes a tailstrike during rotation very unlikely.It's there on all other models from the -300.
The NG versions have a completely redesigned engine pylon and mounting which also increases the ground clearance.
AKelley728 From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 2101 posts, RR: 6 Reply 14, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2334 times:
Another way to tell the difference between the 737-300/400/500 and the 737ng is to look at the back of the engine. The -3/4/5 have a 'cone' and the NGs have a 'tube'.
PSU_DTW_SCE From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (11 years 7 months 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2296 times:
Knowing what airlines fly what helps the most:
For instance,
AA is easy, they're all 737-800's
UA : 200's are easy to ID, plus the 500's are much shorter than the 300's
DL: 300's & 800's (a little more difficult)
SW 200's (easy), 300's, 500's (easy), & 700's
CO is difficult since they have 300's, 500's, 700's, 800's, & 900's
US: 300's & 400's
Douglas DC-9 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 303 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2262 times:
A DC-9 is shorter than the MD-80, and the 717, is about the same size as the MD-80
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined exactly 12 years ago today! , 6203 posts, RR: 43 Reply 18, posted (11 years 7 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 2257 times:
Close but no cigar. Here are the lengths of the relevant models.
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