AirLenkus

I don't know how to ask this... For example: Airbus uses marks like A3XX and Boeing B7XX for their commercial airplanes (as far as I know). I don't know how's that in case of other manufacturers but... is there any special reason that they use exactly this numbers?

gospodin

Does seem arbitrary, doesn't it? We had a thread dealing with this very subject awhile back, but I don't recall all the particulars. I do know that Boeing went from 2XX to 3XX, then to 7XX in their airliner series. They started with the 707, then the 720, 727, 737, 747, 757, 717, 767, 777, and now the 787. I don't know the story on Airbus.

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Steve


"Leave the gun. Take the cannoli."

L-1011-Heavy

X Means Experimental. Airbus Used XX In Place Of A Number While In Conceptual & Development Stage.

Boeing Used E Before Designating 787 As In 7E7.
You Can Buy A Host Of Airbus A-3XX Models In House Colors.

But Don't Confuse With Numbers/Letters Like 777-300ER Or 777-200LR.
ER Means Extended Range, LR Means Long Range.
Confusing To The Novice I Know But You'll Get Used To It.

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The Heavy Armada
"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."

Mystère

Don't know if it's true, but I heard that Boeing choice of 707 was dictated by the fact "7" is a number with "good fortune" properties. They simply incremented the center digit as projects came to reality, apart from 720 whose launching customer (United, I think) wanted a number higher than 707 to indicate it was a new and more performant aircraft. The second block (B747-228, for example) indicates the sub-type (first digit) and customer (second and third digit). In the above example it's a -200 B747 whose customer is Air France (28). Letters can be added to show special capabilities, or even replace the sub-type number : B747SP (Special Performance) for example.

Airbus story for 3xx comes from their first airliner, the A300, designed to carry... 300 passengers. Again the center digit was incremented the same way Boeing did. Sub-types numbers or letters are used too, but I don't really know the way Airbus uses them. Maybe someone else could help ?

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D-AIHC

Take an A340-642 for example:

-6xx is the number for the series/version for the aircraft type

-x4x is the number for engine manufacturer, in this case, it is RR (Airbus uses
numbers from 0-4 & 6, for engine manufacturers, I don't know why they skipped 5)

0 = GE, 1 = CFM, 2 = PW, 3 = IAE, 4 = RR, 6 = EA

-xx2 is the number for engine type that is introduced into service by chronological order and in this case, it is the Trent 556 series with 249kN of thrust.

Note: The above does not apply to A300B2 and A300B4 variants.

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Lufthansa - Star Alliance member since 1997

Mystère

Thank you D-AIHC, I knew you would be able to answer that. And do you know what the "X" stands for in A340-313X, for example ?

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D-AIHC

An "E" is also used instead of "X", which means enhanced - increased gross weight. The airline that operates the "E" or "X" version can opt for an increase in payload or an increase in range.

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Lufthansa - Star Alliance member since 1997

L-1011-Heavy

Also When An Aircraft Is Sold The Original Customer Code Stays With The Aircraft Regardless Of Where It's Sold/Leased In The World. Reg Numbers Also Stay The Same If The Aircraft Remains In The Original Country Or Short Term Leases To Other Foriegn Carriers. Reg Numbers Are Changed Only If Sold To An Airline Of A Different Country Or Long Term Lease In A Different Country.

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The Heavy Armada
"In The Absence Of Excellence, There Is Only Mediocrity."