Which is the best commercial airplane built so far?

Answer 1

Of the modern aircraft, the 737 has probably been most successful. Of the big jets the best track record must go to the 747. For the future the A380 has an excellent chance of taking over from the 747, it is more efficient by far. The 747 used to do around 50 miles passanger miles per gallon, by some calculations an all economy A380 could do 95 miles per passanger gallon.

Of course the 787 hasn't been built yet, Boeing have failed to assemble the aircraft and announced the first flight is delayed four months. The A380 has been flying for ages, you just couldn't make the seatback entertainment do what it should.

Or could we say the DC-3 is best? Some of them have been in service since 1940 or so, that's nearly 70 years of service and some are still flying. A hard act that the 787 is unlikely to be able to follow.

I have flown transatlantic on 737 (via Keflavik in Iceland), 757, 767, A310. With the elimination of effective ETOPS limits virtually any long range twin is legal for direct transoceanic routes now. Interesting choice nased on the past reliability of a bunch of aging engines.

Answer 2

Best Commercial Airplane

Answer 3

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RE:
Which is the best commercial airplane built so far?

Answer 4

I would give the Boeing 707 full honours. Not only did it revolutionise air travel, it also proved itself to be a safe, reliable and hard working aircraft. Boeing kept on producing updated variants keeping it fully in compliance with the ever changing regulations which were coming up in its times. It has proved itself in both passenger and cargo configurations and can still be seen in active service with several countries all over the world.

The aircraft was 'pilot friendly' and easy to turn around.

Indeed this aircraft shall go down in the aviation history as a legend.

Answer 5

Andy H, you are wrong. Boeing 767ERs routinely fly transatlantic.I have been to Europe several times on them. But I digress from the question....

As for the best ever, I think the Boeing 707 is on top. It ushered in the success of jet airline travel. The original test model by Boeing was flown in a barrel roll by Tex Johnson, Boeing chief test pilot at the time. What other airliner can boast that achievement?

Answer 6

Well...that is a very subjective question...Best as far as accident to cycle ratio? Comfort? Range? Here is my input based on experience both as a pilot, and passenger.


The DC/MD series based on the DC-9.

Some of the DC-9/MD-80 series of A/C still in revenue service are twice and three times as old as their rivalries sitting in the desert. For the number of cycles these A/C have accumulated, they have a very low incident rate. Not to mention, because of the fact the engines are at the rear of the plane, they are very quiet from a pax perspective.

The only reason that Boeing cancelled the 717 project was because it was in direct competition with the 737 line, and wasn't of their design.

Answer 7

By far the 747.

If not for the horrible ground accident in the Canary Islands and the soviet shoot-down of KAL007 there have been very few fatal accidents involving B747.

If not the Boeing 747 perhaps another Boeing.

Answer 8

I'd go for the Boeing B737. More than 5000 units made and at anytime there will be more than a 1000 B737s in the sky. These numbers just speak for themselves.

There might be bigger ones, there might be faster ones and there might be ones with more endurance, but the little B737 has been there almost forever and will continue to be made.

Answer 9

John B's got it right.

The DC-3 has got to be the most successful airliner yet. Built in the late 30's, they are STILL many in service today.

Love em'!

Answer 10

probably the Boeing 737 or l-1011. ever heard of a 737 crashing into the ocean? (Trick question) there's only 1 plane with 2 engines allowed by the FAA to fly transcontinental flights. the Boeing 777.