Airplane spotting – 1

Boeing 737 and the Airbus A320 are very common in any airport around the world. 
Some consider these as the most successful aircrafts of the world. The Airbus A320 family is made of 4 aircrafts. They are the Airbus A318, A319, A320 and the A321. The A318, A319, A321 are made from expanding or contracting the A320’s body and thus, have almost the same features. 
The Boeing 737 family consists of the 737-100, 737-200, 737-300, 737-400, 737-500, 737NG (New Generation). In this blog we will be taking account of the 737 NG which is 737-700 and 737-800 as other are not in production. 
If you are travelling domestically or short international route you might be travelling on one of these. With the help of this blog you will be able to spot a Boeing 737 or an aircraft from the Airbus A320 family (all the features mentioned below are same for all the aircraft in the A320 family)

Here are some of the ways in which you as a passenger can distinguish between an Airbus A320 family aircraft and the Boeing 737.

NOSE SHAPE

If you have a better side view then check the nose.  If it is TRIANGULAR IN SHAPE then it is the Boeing 737 and if it is ROUND IN SHAPE then it is the Airbus A320.

A BOEING 737 SIDE VIEW

AIRBUS A320 SIDE VIEW

COCKPIT WINDOWS

A better side view also gives another clue of identifying the two jetliners. Observe the side windows of the aircraft. Most Boeing cockpit end with a ‘V’ shape and the Airbus A320 family’s side windows make a 90 degree angle.

BOEING 737 COCKPIT SIDE WINDOW

AIRBUS A320 COCKPIT SIDE WINDOW

ENGINES

f you have a better front view then see the engines. The Boeing 737 engines are closer to ground and Airbus A320 family’s aircraft’s engines are quite above the ground. And 737’s engines are flat from bottom while A320’s family’s aircraft’s engines are fully circular.

BOEING 737 ENGINES : NOTICE THE FLAT BOTTOM

AIRBUS A320 ENGINES: NOTICE THAT THEY ARE FULLY CIRCULAR

WINGTIPS

A vertical projection is placed on the wingtip either in upwards direction or downwards direction or even in both directions. Boeing calls this WINGLETS and Airbus calls them Shaklets ( pronounced SHOCKLET).
Boeing 737’s winglets are huge or in both directions forming a ‘V’ shape. The Airbus A320 family has a relatively small Sharklet.

BOEING 737 WINGLET AND ITS CLOSE UP

AIRBUS A320 SHARKLETS

So here’s the summary of the topic of the blog:
Boeing 737:
Nose shape                   – Triangular
Cockpit side windows  – Make a obtuse ‘V’ shape at the end
Engines                         – Closer to ground and flat from bottom
Wingtips                       – has WINGLETS, extent on both the sides (up and down) WINGLET’s shpae. – V

Airbus A320 family:
Nose shape                – Circular
Cockpit side window – Form a right angle
Engines                      – Circular in shape
Wingtips                     – has SHARKLETS which is relatively smaller  

WHICH FEATURE HELPED YOU IN IDENTIFYING THE 737 OR A320? Let me know in the comments.
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Photo credits : Alamy , Shutterstock , Southwest , GoAir India
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