Commercial Planes Identification - Airbus A380 vs Boeing 747

Before we start, let's have a look at the two airplanes......

↑ Qanats Airways (QF) Airbus A380-800 [Registration: VH-OQH]

Taken at Sydney International Airport | 10 October 2016 |

↑ Qanats Airways (QF) Boeing Boeing 747-438(ER) [Registration: VH-OEG]
Taken at Sydney International Airport | 10 October 2016 |

Can you distinguish between them? Yes, the first one is the double-decker Airbus A380. The one below is the famous Boeing 747, we also call it the Queen of the Skies, or the Jumbo Jet. Can you spot out their differences?

Airbus A380-800 is the only variant in the A380 Family at the moment. It is said that Airbus will produce a variant of Airbus A380-900 and A380-800neo (neo stands for new engine option). On the other hand,  Boeing's B747 Family consists of B747-100, B747SR (Short Range), B747-100B, B747SP (Special Performance), B747-200, B747-300, B747-400, B747-8. There are freight versions, like B747-400F and B747-8F, and extended range ones like B747-400ER which equips with better engines. Airlines like Qantas, Thai Airlines are still running their B747-400s. However, many airlines like Cathay Pacific, All Nippon Airways (ANA) have retired their B747-400s. Some passenger and cargo airlines like Korean Air, Lufthansa, Nippon Cargo Airlines, Cargolux, Cathay Pacific Cargo are using B747-8(F) at the moment.

The major difference is that Airbus A380 has two decks, while the B747 has its "hump" upper deck only. Moreover, they have different cockpit windows, different numbers of wheels. Let's have a closer look on their cockpit window.

↑ Qanats Airways (QF) Airbus A380-800 [Registration: VH-OQH]
Taken at Sydney International Airport | 10 October 2016 |

↑ Thai Airways International (QF) Boeing 747-400 [Registration: HS-TGO] 
Taken at Sydney International Airport | 10 October 2016 |

Can you spot out that they got different shapes? Personally, I like the Queen of the Skies more, I think its shape is just perfect. On the contrary, the A380 is a bit too fat, haha!!

Moving on to the wheels, have a count~

[Image courtesy of Airbus]

[Image courtesy of Boeing]

Have you got the answer? Yeah, the Airbus A380 has 22 wheels. 2 at the front, 6 at each side of the fuselage and 4 on each side of the wings, making it a total of twenty-two. On the other hand, the Jumbo Jet has 18 in total. 2 at the front, 4 at each side of the fuselage and 4 more on each side of the wings, comprising a total of 18.

Next time, we shall have a look at the Airbus A330 and B777. See you soon!