Just musing, but this may be of interest to some forumers. What is the total number of aircraft types built or projected? Note that this is not the total number of aircraft built, but total number of different types. On this basis the Spitfire would score 14 if I counted the manufacturers type numbers correctly.
My guess is 10,000 to 20,000. I am sure it is more than 10,000 but I have no idea what the upper limit might be.
Happy head scratching.
By: HP111 - 21st January 2013 at 15:34
[QUOTE=Supermarine305;1978000]
Um, by what definition would you define a seperate aircraft type? …../QUOTE]
“manufacturers type numbers” as stated.
…..
Are we to suppose that all aircraft properly designed, that might have had a chance of being built, are know of today, that the records of their existance haven’t been lost or destroyed? …..
Is anyone supposing that?
…..Would aircraft designed and built before the Wright Brothers (or the amateur flops afterwards) be counted as well despite their non-success?
Yes, why not?
Well, thanks for your dismissive response. Are you saying you don’t see a way of reaching an estimate?
Out of interest my ‘aerodata’ database lists 9223 types (sub types not included) and 1.7mil individual aircraft. The number of one offs built in the US alone must exceed 1000.
The 9223 concurs with my approximate lower bound.
By: farnboroughrob - 19th January 2013 at 20:50
Out of interest my ‘aerodata’ database lists 9223 types (sub types not included) and 1.7mil individual aircraft. The number of one offs built in the US alone must exceed 1000.
By: Supermarine305 - 19th January 2013 at 20:40
Um, by what definition would you define a seperate aircraft type?
A B-50 or Avro Lincoln are just souped up B-29s and Avro Lancasters respectively with more powerful engines. So by that definition would you class Griffon engined Spits as a seperate type to their Merlin engined forebears? (Of course forgetting Supermarine’s own type numbers.)
Are we to suppose that all aircraft properly designed, that might have had a chance of being built, are know of today, that the records of their existance haven’t been lost or destroyed?
Would aircraft designed and built before the Wright Brothers (or the amateur flops afterwards) be counted as well despite their non-success?
I could raise other objections but that would be long-winded, and more knowledgeable could raise even more. I suspect strongly that this is a fool’s errand, even if you can get a broad agreement as to what constitutes an aircraft type.
Your guess is as good as any.
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January 19, 2013 at 5:39 pm