What plane is this
Discussion
I did have a ponder about this one as it puzzled me a bit as to what it could be. Thought process was as it's Air France, it'd be either Boeing or Airbus and as you ruled out an A340 and similar size to a 737, it didn't fit anything that I could think of that either Airbus or Boeing do. The only thing I could think of was that you made a mistake and it's not an Air France but something more Eastern European and it be a Russian Ilyushin.
Quick google search found this, look familiar?
This is an Il96, similar size to a 777 but 4 engined instead of 2.
Quick google search found this, look familiar?
This is an Il96, similar size to a 777 but 4 engined instead of 2.
That's why I was so confused, just can't think what it could have been given it was Air France, and knowing it was neither an A340 or a BAE146. I guess the only logical conclusion is my flight from Houston had made me drowsy enough to not notice that on a long line of planes that were all Air France the one I spent the most time looking at was not. So yes, could have been something like what you have pictures, from memory it did have the wing tip things so quite possibly that's what I was looking at.
As a totally off the wall suggestion how about this:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/2424451
With a squint on, from a distance and no context or scale it does look a bit like a 737, but if it was in a long line of aircraft as you say then that's my theory out the window as you'd notice how big it was compared to the rest.
http://www.airliners.net/photo/2424451
With a squint on, from a distance and no context or scale it does look a bit like a 737, but if it was in a long line of aircraft as you say then that's my theory out the window as you'd notice how big it was compared to the rest.
951TSE said:
As a totally off the wall suggestion how about this:
http://www.airliners.net/photo/2424451
With a squint on, from a distance and no context or scale it does look a bit like a 737, but if it was in a long line of aircraft as you say then that's my theory out the window as you'd notice how big it was compared to the rest.
Nah wasn't a 380 either. http://www.airliners.net/photo/2424451
With a squint on, from a distance and no context or scale it does look a bit like a 737, but if it was in a long line of aircraft as you say then that's my theory out the window as you'd notice how big it was compared to the rest.
Eric Mc said:
High wing?
Low wing?
High tailplane?
Low tailplane?
The first thing I thought of was this, but these have long since been retired from Air France service -
Low Wing, it was definitely not a 146 - my brother in law flew them for years so I know what they look like.Low wing?
High tailplane?
Low tailplane?
The first thing I thought of was this, but these have long since been retired from Air France service -
Only way I can really describe it was 737 size but with 4 engines, was just very strange as I am quite familiar with different planes as have a lot of family in the business. Was 99% sure it was Air France as it was parked in a long line of Air France planes all in a line, but I guess it is possible it was not Air France. There was an A340 (or a 777 can't remember exactly) a few down from it so I could see from size comparison it was not either of those, and I'd just got off a 777.
Was it parked at a terminal gate or just sitting forlornly at some part of the airport?
Which Paris airport was it,
Charles de Gaulle?
Orly?
Le Bourget?
Your description makes it sound like an old Boeing 707. The 737 design was based very heavily on the 707 so it has a very close family resemblance. The other airliners of a similar size to the 707 were the Douglas DC-8 and the two Convairs, the 880 and the 990. The 880 and 990 are no extinct (there were never many of them anyway). DC-8s can still be seen in diminishing numbers as they were upgraded with new engines in the 1980s and some are still used as freighters.
Air France does not operate any of these older generation aircraft now.
Which Paris airport was it,
Charles de Gaulle?
Orly?
Le Bourget?
Your description makes it sound like an old Boeing 707. The 737 design was based very heavily on the 707 so it has a very close family resemblance. The other airliners of a similar size to the 707 were the Douglas DC-8 and the two Convairs, the 880 and the 990. The 880 and 990 are no extinct (there were never many of them anyway). DC-8s can still be seen in diminishing numbers as they were upgraded with new engines in the 1980s and some are still used as freighters.
Air France does not operate any of these older generation aircraft now.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th April 10:05
Eric Mc said:
Was it parked at a terminal gate or just sitting forlornly at some part of the airport?
Which Paris airport was it,
Charles de Gaulle?
Orly?
Le Bourget?
Your description makes it sound like an old Boeing 707. The 737 design was based very heavily on the 707 so it has a very close family resemblance. The other airliners of a similar size to the 707 were the Douglas DC-8 and the two Convairs, the 880 and the 990. The 880 and 990 are no extinct (there were never many of them anyway). DC-8s can still be seen in diminishing numbers as they were upgraded with new engines in the 1980s and some are still used as freighters.
Air France does not operate any of these older generation aircraft now.
CDGWhich Paris airport was it,
Charles de Gaulle?
Orly?
Le Bourget?
Your description makes it sound like an old Boeing 707. The 737 design was based very heavily on the 707 so it has a very close family resemblance. The other airliners of a similar size to the 707 were the Douglas DC-8 and the two Convairs, the 880 and the 990. The 880 and 990 are no extinct (there were never many of them anyway). DC-8s can still be seen in diminishing numbers as they were upgraded with new engines in the 1980s and some are still used as freighters.
Air France does not operate any of these older generation aircraft now.
Edited by Eric Mc on Monday 14th April 10:05
Not a terminal gate but neither was the flight we arrived on, we were bused in to terminal. It was parked at an active area.
Did it look like the 707 picture I posted?
It would not have been an Air France aircraft but there are a tiny number of 707s still being used for governmental transports - especially in some African countries.
The USAF and the French Air Force use military derivatives of the 707 design for various roles - including as air to air tankers and for electronic warfare duties - so it might have been a military 707 version of some sort.
It would not have been an Air France aircraft but there are a tiny number of 707s still being used for governmental transports - especially in some African countries.
The USAF and the French Air Force use military derivatives of the 707 design for various roles - including as air to air tankers and for electronic warfare duties - so it might have been a military 707 version of some sort.
707s came in varying lengths. The picture I posted showed the longest fuselage variant - the 300 series.
I din't think that there are any civilian or government operated short fuselage 707s in use any more.
Some of the military variants are a good bit shorter than the Series 300 707, particularly the tanker derivative which is known as the KC-135. However, they are almost all painted in very military looking grey colours and aren't easily mistaken as airliners.
HOWEVER, now and then one of the more specialist electronic surveillance C-135 versions might turn up at an airport and they often carry a more "civvie" type scheme -
.
I din't think that there are any civilian or government operated short fuselage 707s in use any more.
Some of the military variants are a good bit shorter than the Series 300 707, particularly the tanker derivative which is known as the KC-135. However, they are almost all painted in very military looking grey colours and aren't easily mistaken as airliners.
HOWEVER, now and then one of the more specialist electronic surveillance C-135 versions might turn up at an airport and they often carry a more "civvie" type scheme -
.
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