Aircraft model number

[Harpoon]

Just a very basic query.

Where does the 438 come from in a 747-438 for Qantas, or 436 for BA, or the 412 for United Airlines.....etc. etc.

Is each customer assigned a code or is it a different interior design?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Have a look on:-
Boeing: Commercial Airplanes - 747 - About the 747 Family
Boeing: Commercial Airplanes - 747 Classics
Aircraft Information: Boeing 747-400 | Airliners.net
Boeing 747 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 747 first flew in 1969. Model numbers more to do with changes in detailed design over time, engines, avionics & various other options for the airlines that order. Hence 412, 437,438 etc.
Nothing to do with interior, as interiors get completely replaced from time to time. Boeing will supply you an aircraft with no interior if you order it that way.

Edit:
B747 production list Production list - Airfleets (jump to around page 13 14-15)

 

[markis10]

Boeing's system has been in place since the 707 in the 50's and can be decoded as -xyy where x is a version of the plane such as 400 in the case mentioned and the next two digits are the code for the ordering airline. A 747-420 would in fact be a 400 series boeing that was made for Boeing.

Airbus dont use customer codes, they have a different system, Ammm-sevZ where the individual components are described below.

• Ammm = model number
• s = series number
• e = number defining the engine manufacturer
• v = number defining the version of the engine model
• Z = optional letter describing a variation of the series number

 

[NM]

And that is why Qantas' Boeing 737-400s are 737-476 since they were originally ordered by Australian Airlines, whose Boeing customer identifier was 76. However, the Qantas 737-800s are all 737-838 models because they were all originally purchased by Qantas.

And there are three Boeing 747-400s in the Qantas fleet that were not originally ordered by Qantas, so these retain the model number of the original ordering airline. These are:

VH-OEB as 747-48E originally purchased by Asiana
VH-OEC as 747-4H6 originally purchased by Malaysian
VH-OED as 747-4H6 originally purchased by Malaysian

And Qantas has two types of Boeing 767-300s. The one originally ordered by Qantas are 767-338 and those that were originally ordered by BA are 767-336.

 

[Shano]

And Qantas has two types of Boeing 767-300s. The one originally ordered by Qantas are 767-338 and those that were originally ordered by BA are 767-336.

I was a bit surprised to see that this is even reflected in the safety card on board the ex BA 763's. These cards clearly state 767-336

 

[serfty]

Well, there are significant differences in the configuration of these ZX's when compare to that of QF's 763-338s.

At the very least, on each side they have two doors/exits forward of the wing while the QF ordered 763's have only the one (but two over the wing).

This would be enough to produce a different safety card - while at it, there's no reason not to indicate 763-336 on the ZXs' cards.

 

[markis10]

I was a bit surprised to see that this is even reflected in the safety card on board the ex BA 763's. These cards clearly state 767-336

They wont be ex-BA for too much longer, they are still owned by BA and will go back once QF get their fleet sorted with new product. Have to admit I am not a big fan, I like having an air vent above me which is not a feature of aircraft built for BA.

 

[Shano]

That makes sense. I had never really taken much notice of the different configurations - exits, etc....

 

[oz_mark]

They wont be ex-BA for too much longer, they are still owned by BA and will go back once QF get their fleet sorted with new product. Have to admit I am not a big fan, I like having an air vent above me which is not a feature of aircraft built for BA.

Given their new product hasn't left the ground yet, I would expect they will be ex-BA for a couple of years yet.

 

[serfty]

They wont be ex-BA for too much longer, they are still owned by BA and will go back once QF get their fleet sorted with new product. Have to admit I am not a big fan, I like having an air vent above me which is not a feature of aircraft built for BA.

Unfortunately, Qantas are in the process of refurbishing these with the "New" Fabrics, so they'll be around for some time to come.

(At least 4 have been done).

 

[Harpoon]

Thanks for the explanations

 

[Flashback]

I had an ex-BA 767 on my recent BNE-PER trip, and was happy to have 2 seats to myself and ex-SWMBO (2 seats in the first row, rather than 3)