What's your favourite aircraft type?

[Mattg]

I thought it might be nice to talk about something other than lockdowns and covid. So... what's your favourite plane type? And why?

I find it hard to pick just one, as I love flying on lots of different types of planes... 747s, A380s, even E190s. But my personal favourite would have to be the Boeing 767-300.

Maybe it's because I feel nostalgic about flying on Qantas 767s in the 2000s, maybe it's the sound of the engines, or perhaps it's the comfortable 2-3-2 layout in economy class. But I haven't had many bad flights on a Boeing 767 (and if I have, it wasn't because of the aircraft type!).

 

[Austman]

I've been on probably a hundred different types of aircraft.

For me the A380, from an overall passenger experience (pretty much in any class) is the best. A350s not too far behind. 787s - blah.

Before the new-gens it was 747s: especially the -300s, -400s and -SPs.

I agree that in domestic Y, the QF 767s could be pretty good.

 

[oznflfan]

Best A380
Worst E190

 

[jakeseven7]

Short hops: 717
- Love the racing car feel of the flight
- Love 2-3 layout
- Love the steep takeoffs

Long hops: A380
- Comfort
- Bars, Showers
- Noise

 

[Austman]

- Love the steep takeoffs

Indeed!

And in the other "MD" series aircraft, the MD-80s etc, where I've often been in row 1 or 2, I've never gripped the armrest so tightly!

 

[Guvner]

747 for me. It's like visiting your Grandma's.
Everything is crusty and worn out, but its familiar, safe and nostalgic.

 

[flyingfan]

I wish I had a more interesting answer but it's the A380, because I haven't had a premium flying experience top EK F. Have great memories of smaller aircraft but that's more because of what the flight origin/destination was rather than how I got there.

For domestic hops the QF 767s felt much nicer than the current 737s (rarely get the A330) and I always tried to pick those, but I'm sure it was just perception and the Y seats themselves aren't actually wider, more comfortable or have more pitch.

 

[TheRealTMA]

A380 in EK F is (was) fabulous experience. QF 380 F ok but not a patch on EK. QF 747 J used to be quite good. Who knows if we’ll ever get there again.

 

[OZDUCK]

The A350 has been my favourite aircraft to fly on so far. Admittedly only I have been on them in J and the QATAR Qsuites may have influenced my decision. I have found the A380 to be the quietest in both J and Y. The most amusing was the flying furniture van that was the Shorts 360. The most interesting to walk around on the tarmac - and listen to the noise on takeoff was the Super VC10.

 

[AIRwin]

No Concorde yet?

 

[Brissy1]

No Concorde yet?

Best looker, but very narrow seating. Never flown in one, just a walk through the one in NY.

For J, B747 when upstairs was J.

 

[Must...Fly!]

B767 for the best feeling
A380 for the best passenger experience
Honoourable mention to the E190 for seat space

 

[cove]

It was A380 up front that we loved as there was so much room to stretch out.

 

[eric2011]

What's your favourite aircraft type​

Anything that flies anywhere at the moment

 

[Major]

Row 5 on the VA 777. Private, comfortable and close to the bar. What more could you want.

We did a couple of BNE-LAX-BNE trips in Row 5 and thought they were great.

 

[Mattg]

Anyone flown on an Airbus A220? I haven’t yet, but I’ve heard they’re also pretty comfortable in economy with a spacious 2-3 layout.

 

[RooFlyer]

A380 - but not just any, though - EY (!) EK or QR F
A350 my favourite 'everyday ride'.

 

[jb747]

As a passenger, A380 or A350.

As an airline pilot, B767.

As a pilot, A4G.

 

[2infinity]

No Concorde yet?

By far the Concorde is my favourite aircraft. They are just so beautiful and a miracle of modern engineering - even still, even though its 50 years since they started flying. I've been on the one in NY, I've seen one land/takeoff in person, I have the poster and resin scale model at home, but sadly I was never fortunate enough to fly. I was saving up but they ceased operating before I could get there. It would have been amazing that is for sure.

Of the aircraft I have flown, the A380 tops them all, in Y, J & F. I would choose this aircraft every time if I could and it will be another sad day when they cease to operate like the B747.

The B747, especially in the hump, comes in 2nd, but alas this experience is a memory now.

Anything wide-body comes 3rd, having been in B777, B767 and A330. Th 2-4-2 layout in Y in the A330 is nice.

Some honourable mentions are:
Single engine flight between Queenstown and Franz-josef. Pilot did some steep dives and hard pull-ups for me. Heaps of fun. Thought the wings were going to rip off. (I don't recall the type of aircraft, probably some type of cessna)

Skydive Mission Beach. The green beast of the plane they were using at the time. Awesome. Again I don't know the type, but photo attached.


And call me strange, but I really enjoy turbulence, so the smaller the plane the better for that.

 

[AIRwin]

Th 2-3-2 layout in Y in the A330 is nice.

2-4-2?