Thousands of types of aircraft have been manufactured during the last century. Even the most seasoned plane spotter would not be able to recognize them all. After all, there are just too many models and variations. 

But being able to identify them all is not necessary. Most aircraft belong to several broad categories and, within those categories, there are a handful of dominant manufacturers and models. Of course, we all love the exotic and the unusual, but we are more likely to encounter the popular and more commonplace types sought-after by major airlines. 

Now, there are many reasons to want to identify aircraft. You could simply wish to satisfy your curiosity or want to impress your friends with your aviation knowledge. Or you might be thinking of dabbling in the art of plane spotting. Whether you plan to do that seriously and post photographs online for all to see, or just fancy hanging out near airports and enjoying the sight of graceful flying machines, being able to tell aircraft apart is important.  

To ease the task, the team at AeroTime has compiled a list of the most common causes for confusion for novice plane spotters and veterans alike. This list can be used as a beginner’s guide to plane spotting, or even as reference material during your plane spotting adventures. It could even be used as a list of interesting tidbits to be remembered.  

The points are not listed in order of…