Airliner Quiz: How Many Commercial Aircraft Can You Name?
Quick, free airplane identification quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.
This airliner quiz helps you spot and name common commercial planes from photos and silhouettes. Warm up with our aircraft recognition quiz, or take a turn on name the plane for rapid-fire practice. For a broader challenge, see our airplane quiz. You get instant feedback and can replay to beat your best score.
Study Outcomes
- Recognize aircraft silhouettes -
Master airplane identification by matching distinctive silhouettes to their corresponding aircraft models in this plane quiz.
- Differentiate airliner types -
Distinguish between major commercial airliners and private jets to enhance your airliner identification skills.
- Recall model names and manufacturers -
Improve your memory recall to quickly name aircraft models and their manufacturers during fast-paced quiz rounds.
- Analyze liveries and markings -
Apply airplane identifier techniques to link unique liveries and markings with the correct airlines and aircraft models.
- Track and assess your performance -
Use real-time scoring feedback in the aircraft quiz to monitor your progress and identify areas for improvement.
- Expand your aircraft knowledge -
Engage with a diverse range of aircraft quizzes to broaden your understanding of global aircraft types and history.
Cheat Sheet
- Wing Configuration Recognition -
Understanding high-wing, low-wing, and delta-wing layouts is crucial for quick airplane identification. Use the "Highway, Midway, Lowway" mnemonic - high wings look like an elevated road, mid wings run through the fuselage center, and low wings hug the belly. Reference FAA diagrams (faa.gov) to see official wing schematics in this plane quiz context.
- Engine Type and Placement -
Spotting turbofans under the wings versus rear-fuselage or pusher props speeds up aircraft quiz answers. For example, the Airbus A320 series has wing-mounted engines, while the MD-80 series tuck engines at the tail. FAA Type Rating Handbooks (faa.gov) include detailed engine-mounting drawings you can review.
- Tail and Empennage Styles -
Distinguishing T-tails from conventional tails helps refine your airliner identification skills in seconds. The Boeing 727's T-tail stands out compared to the Boeing 737's low-set tailplane. Boeing Technical Manuals (boeing.com) offer clear diagrams to practice before taking a plane quiz.
- Fuselage and Window Patterns -
Wide-body jets like the Boeing 777 have two windows per side of the cockpit ("double bubble") versus narrow-body planes like the A320. Count the main cabin windows per side as a quick airplane identifier trick. Airbus official spec sheets (airbus.com) list fuselage dimensions and window counts for reference.
- Livery, Logos, and Registration Codes -
Recognizing an airline's color scheme or tail logo can clinch your aircraft quiz score - think British Airways' red-white-blue speedmarque. Familiarize yourself with IATA livery guides (iata.org) and registration prefixes (e.g., N for USA, G for UK) to lock in correct plane quiz answers every time.