What constitutes an aircraft type?

Thanks again, based on that I can tell my nephew the total is 45 types….

Steve.

Hi Again,

Thanks for all the input; I think J Boyle’s reply is on the nail, so does anyone know if the DC9, MD80,MD90 and Boeing 717 share a type certificate? also do the Bell 206 Jet Ranger and 406 Long Ranger share a type certificate?

Many thanks again for all your input Steve.

I think the DC-9/MD-80 do…and 717 was more of a new post McDonDoug marketing name for the MD-80.

The 206 and 206L do…since it’s a simple stretch. I don’t think (there’s that word again) the 407 shares it because of its new/different rotor system.

Hi Again,

Thanks for all the input; I think J Boyle’s reply is on the nail, so does anyone know if the DC9, MD80,MD90 and Boeing 717 share a type certificate? also do the Bell 206 Jet Ranger and 406 Long Ranger share a type certificate?

Many thanks again for all your input Steve.

J.B. Exactly what I would say:)

………so what you are all basically saying is; if someones first ever flight was in a Hastings in 1952 and has since flown only in various commercial aircraft, they will only have flown in ONE type – an airliner. :rolleyes: :confused:

No.
In the US (and I’ll assume elsewhere…though they probably call it something different) a type certificate is awarded to any commercially available aircraft..(not strictly military like an F-22, or an “experimental” or homebuilt type.

So, the Beech Bonanza has one type certificate…which is amended when major changes are introduced. If you want to count all Bonanzas (Model 33, 35, 36) as one type, you’re free to. But since the original 35 has seemingly little in common to the current 36G (at least to the untrained eye) some might consider it a different aircraft.

Hastings, Viscount, Comet, 737, etc, etyc…are all different aircraft dispite the fact they’re all “airliners”.

………so what you are all basically saying is; if someones first ever flight was in a Hastings in 1952 and has since flown only in various commercial aircraft, they will only have flown in ONE type – an airliner. :rolleyes: :confused:

I agree with what the others have said..no easy answer…but perhaps the shortest answer is whether it’s made under the same type certificate.

To use a current example…you could argue that the Beech Bonanza is the longest in-production aircraft: 1947 to today.
But, it’s been reengined, stretched and re-tailed…yet it has the same type certificate.

Same basic argument about the C-130A and the “J”. New engines, avionics, electrical syatem, revised structure, stretched.

Or the original 1950’s HU-1 Huey to todays Bell UH-1Y…

Hi,

Talking to my nephew last night he asked ‘how many aircraft types have you flown in?’ So I started making a list; now this is the problem; we all know what a DC9 is, but is it the same aircraft type as an MD80 or MD90 or Boeing 717? How about the Bell Jet and Long Ranger Helicopters?

Also is a Spitfire Mk24 really the same aircraft type as an Spitfire Mk1? or is this all a question of whats in a name?

I would appreciate people’s thoughts.

Steve.

Good question, and never one there will be a solid answer to. The Spitfire Mk21 was going to be called the Valiant at one point, and considered a different type, but Vickers decided against it in the end. As far as I can tell the shape of the rear fuselage from the base to the level of the base of the canopy, from the back of the cockpit to the leading edge of the tail was more or less the same on every variant of Spitfire (although the structure was strengthened from the MkVIII onwards). Everything else changed at some point I think – although no doubt within minutes I will have been proved wrong!

I only count main types…i.e. sea king covers all, VC10K covers all K’s etc

Difficult one Steve,

I guess its a case of sometimes it is sometimes it isnt. And I guess you also need to look at who is asking the question. The casual passer by may well call them the same type but to the enthusiast or even certificating authorities such as the FAA or CAA it may well be seen as a differant type.

Look at the Boeing 737 for example. Aircraft maintainers will usually get an approval cert in two groups. Ie 737 Classic or the 737 Next Generation (600-900 series). Its seen as a completly differant aircraft due to the difference in systems. To you and me its a 737 though.

Is this one of those questions like the is it a replica or an original Spitfire? 😉