Airbus and Boeing have been dominating the market for passenger aircraft ...
with a range of more than 1.600 NMI (3.000km) and 150 seats in recent years.
This situation will stay the same in the foreseeable future.
This video gives an overview of the aircraft that Airbus and Boeing currently produce ...
... and in the coming years.
- Single Aisle Aircraft -
The A320 had its maiden flight in 1987 and is the best selling aircraft type from Airbus.
The aircraft has two engines, a wing span of 111 ft 10 in (34.10 m), a length of 123 ft 3 in (37.57 m)...
... and can carry up to 180 passengers.
The stretched version is the Airbus A321.
This aircraft has length of 146 ft (44.51 m) and is about 22 ft (7m) longer than the A320,
and can carry up to 236 passengers.
For both aircraft types Airbus still has a significant order backlog.
The new development of the A320 family has the extension "neo" for "new engine option".
Two different engine types are offered: The LEAP from CFM International ...
... and the PW1100G from Pratt & Whitney, which is equipped with a revolutionary reduction gear.
Aircraft with this engine type are particularly economical and quiet.
The A320neo had its maiden flight in 2014.
The A320neo family aircraft are equipped with characteristic sharklets ...
... which improve the aerodynamics of the wing.
The sharklets however have been applied to later conventional A320s as well ...
... so that the neo can be recognized especially by the larger engines.
To the A320neo family belong the A319neo and A321neo.
The A319neo can carry up to 160 passengers,
the A320neo up to 195 and the A321neo up to 240.
There will also be the version "A321neoLR" which is equipped with additional fuel tanks ...
... and has a range of up to 4,000 NM (7,400 km). So flights across the Atlantic are possible.
The first delivery is scheduled for 2019.
The Boeing 737 is a bestseller in the market segment of single aisle aircraft, too.
The original Boeing 737 first flew in 1967. Since then, the aircraft has been continuously developed.
The types 737-700, 800 and 900ER belong to the so-called "Next Generation" ...
... and are still in production for some time.
The 700 can carry up to 149 passengers,
the 800 up to 189 and the 900ER up to 220.
Boeing has received a total more than 5,000 orders for the 800.
The answer from Boeing to the A320neo family is the 737 MAX with the versions 7, 8, 200 and 9.
The lengths and seats correspond to the 700, 800 and 900ER types of the "Next Generation" series.
The 737 MAX 200 has the same length as the MAX 8, but has an emergency exit more ...
... and can carry up to 200 passengers, as the name already suggests.
The wing span of the generation "MAX" increases by 5 ft (1.5 m),
and its characteristic winglets make it easily recognizable.
There are also plans for a further stretched 737 MAX.
- Aircraft With Two Aisles -
Boeing relies on a proven design with the 737. By contrast, the 787 is a high-tech aircraft.
Lightweight composite materials instead of metal, air conditioning without bleed air from the engines,
sophisticated aerodynamics - these are some of the highlights.
Characteristic are the "chevron nozzles" - the serrations of the engines.
Theoretically this aircraft´s fuel consumption is as low as 6 miles per gallon per passenger.
There are the versions 8, 9 and 10.
Depending on the cabin configuration there is space for up to 400 passengers and more.
The airplane has been designed for long distances and has a range of up to 7,500 NM (14,000 km).
The aircraft types from Airbus and Boeing are no clear competitors above ...
... the A320 and 737 families.
The classic Airbus A330 has no direct Boeing competitor.
The first flight of the A330 was in 1992,
and the aircraft is still very popular with the airlines.
The version 200 can carry up to 406 passengers, the version 300 up to 440.
For the A330-300 Airbus still has a significant order backlog.
Due to the demand, Airbus has decided, to develop a neo version of the A330,
like the aircraft manufacturer did with the A320 family.
The fuselages basically remain the same.
But the wing span increases by a whopping 12 ft (3.70 m) by large sharklets on the wingtips.
Together with further improvements the operating costs are supposed to be 10-15% lower compared to ...
... the classic A330 versions.
The A330-800neo replaces the classical version 200, the A330-900neo replaces the version 300.
With all the improvements the A330-900neo is even a competitor to another Airbus ...
... the A350-900.
The Airbus A350 has been developed in response to the Boeing 787 ...
... and uses a lot of new technologies, too.
This type of aircraft is produced in the versions 900, 900ULR for Ultra Long Range and 1000.
The aircraft is bigger than the Boeing 787.
Only the biggest Boeing 787, the -10 and the smallest Airbus A350, the -900, as seen here in the picture,
may be regarded as competitors.
The version 900ULR is equipped with additional fuel tanks and has a remarkable range ...
... of more than 9,000 NM (17,000 km) and 19 hours flight time.
Thus, for example, non-stop flights London - Sydney or Singapore - New York can be scheduled.
The A350-1000 has a wing span of 212 ft 5 in (64.75 m) and a length of 242 ft (73.78 m) ...
... and is the largest twin engine Airbus.
There are also plans for a further stretched A350.
The Boeing 777, commonly called the "Triple-Seven",
is the largest passenger aircraft with two engines on the market,
The version 300ER is equipped with the General Electric GE90-115B.
The engine produces a thrust of more than 110,000 lbf (500 kN),
which is roughly calculated more than 100,000 horsepower.
Per engine, mind you.
The aircraft can carry over 500 passengers.
Very characteristic is the main landing gear. Each side has 6 wheels.
The production of the 777 continues.
From the end of the decade onwards, new versions will be delivered to the airlines.
There will be the versions 8 and 9.
The Boeing 777-8 has a range of over 9,000 NM (17,000 km) and is a competitor to the Airbus A350-1000.
With version 8 ultra-long routes are possible.
Version 9 has, as version 8, a wing span of 235 ft 5 in (71.80 m),
however, a length of 251 ft (76.50 m), making it the longest airliner.
Impressive also the engines from General Electric, which have a diameter of 11 ft 2 in (3.40 m) ...
... and thus the largest diameter of all ever built engine types.
The airplane has no direct competitor from Airbus ...
... and is rather designed to replace existing Boeing 747 fleets.
The Boeing 747-8 completes the overview of the current Boeing aircraft.
The newest Jumbo Jet is struggling in the market.
At least the freighter version is reasonably successful.
The 747-8 has a further stretched fuselage, compared to the 747-predecessors,
and the passenger version accordingly has an extended upper deck with a characteristic "hump".
The cabin can be equipped with up to 605 passenger seats.
The four engines have "chevron nozzles", the wings no classical winglets any more.
So the 747-8 is relatively easy to recognize.
Move on to the largest aircraft in this overview - the Airbus A380.
A wing span of 261 ft 10 in (79.80 m), two complete passenger decks,
up to 853 passenger seats, maximum take-off weight far over 1 milion lb (575 tons)
- these are all superlatives in commercial aviation.
The A380 will keep this position in the next years.