Have you ever looked up and wondered what type of plane you’re seeing, where it’s going, or what airline it is? If not, I don’t judge, but if yes, keep reading. The main types of planes you will probably see are small (compared to the ones that I’ll tell you about) but a few of them are much bigger. The planes that I will show you are larger, and may catch your attention.
A330
The most common large plane to see, it has a long but thick frame and a short but stubby winglet (part of the wing that sticks up at the tip). Usually flown by Delta, it is their main widebody carrier aside from the A350.
A350
Another Airbus, the A350 is another one of Delta’s main planes. It looks newer and more modern, compared to other widebodies. It has a shaded front cockpit, which almost looks like a mask on the front of the plane. It is a newer addition to Delta to replace the aging A330s, and 767s (a smaller widebody).
787
A plane flown mostly by KLM into Minneapolis, it will almost always have a blue and white body. It looks modern like the A350, and is the first Boeing on the list.
Some other noticeable differences are its curved wing tips, and jagged edges of its engines.
777
An older Boeing jet, it has two giant engines, and is a big widebody. A difference between it and other planes of its type is that it has no winglets. It is only flown by Air France into Minneapolis, so it looks totally white with red, white, and blue lines on the tail.
747
Maybe the most recognizable plane, the 747 has 2 decks and is sadly retiring, but for now, UPS flies them into MSP. It has 4 engines and is only flown here with cargo, not passengers.
By Jacob Meister, age 12
