How to Identify Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320: A Spotter's Guide

Meta Description: Learn the key differences between Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 from a plane spotter's perspective. Visual guide with tips for quick identification in the field.

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If you're new to plane spotting, telling a Boeing 737 from an Airbus A320 is like learning to distinguish between a Ford and a Chevy — once you know what to look for, it becomes second nature. These two narrow-body workhorses dominate the skies, and being able to spot the difference quickly is a rite of passage for any aviation enthusiast.

Why These Two Matter

The Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 families are the most common commercial aircraft you'll encounter at any airport. Together, they've sold over 25,000 units combined. If you're spotting at a major airport, roughly 70% of the planes you see will be one of these two types.

The 5-Second Identification Method

When a plane is approaching, you don't have time to analyze every detail. Here's the spotter's shortcut:

1. Look at the Nose Shape

Boeing 737: Pointy, "hawk-like" nose with a sharp, angular profile. The windshield has a distinctive "V" shape where the side windows meet the center.

Airbus A320: Rounded, bulbous nose — some spotters call it the "dolphin nose." The windshield is more curved and continuous, with a gentler transition between panels.

Pro tip: From directly head-on, the 737 looks aggressive; the A320 looks friendly.

2. Check the Landing Gear

Boeing 737: Two wheels on each main gear (on the -700, -800, -900 series). The gear is shorter and the wheels are partially exposed even when retracted — you'll see the tires bulging slightly from the fuselage in flight.

Airbus A320: Two wheels on each main gear for standard models, but the gear is taller and fully enclosed when retracted. The A321 has four-wheel bogies on each side.

3. The Tail Cone Tells All

Boeing 737: Distinctive flattened, "beaver tail" rear fuselage. This design legacy dates back to the 1960s when Boeing wanted to protect the tail during steep takeoffs on unimproved runways.

Airbus A320: Conventional rounded tail cone — smooth and continuous.

4. Engine Shape (Classic Clue)

Boeing 737: Engines have a distinctive flat-bottomed appearance, especially on the newer MAX and NG series. They're mounted lower and closer to the wing.

Airbus A320: Perfectly circular engines mounted slightly higher and further forward on the wing.

Exception: The original 737-100/200 ("Classics") had round engines, but these are rare now.

5. Winglet Style

Boeing 737: Newer models (-800, -900, MAX) have distinctive "split scimitar" winglets that point both up and down. Older models may have blended winglets (single upward curve) or none at all.

Airbus A320: "Sharklets" — single upward-pointing winglets with a distinctive angular shape. The A320neo has a more streamlined, curved winglet.

Advanced: Technical Differences

| Feature | Boeing 737 | Airbus A320 | |---------|------------|-------------| | Cockpit windows | Angular, "eyebrow" windows on older models | Curved, continuous line | | APU exhaust | Round, centered | Small, offset to left | | Pitot tubes | Two visible on nose | One visible on nose | | Door arrangement | Single overwing exit per side | Two overwing exits (A320) |

Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to learn is to test yourself:

1. Airport spotting: Sit at a gate and try to identify planes before they taxi close enough to read the livery.
2. Flight tracking apps: Use apps like Flightradar24 — guess the type from the icon, then tap to verify.
3. Photo quizzes: r/Planespotting often has identification challenges.

Quick Reference Card

Is it a 737 if:

• Pointy nose ✓
• Flat tail cone ✓
• Flat-bottomed engines ✓
• Split winglets (newer) ✓

Is it an A320 if:

• Rounded nose ✓
• Rounded tail cone ✓
• Circular engines ✓
• Sharklets ✓

Try Our AI Identification Tool

Still unsure? Upload a photo to aviation.racetagger.cloud and our AI will identify the aircraft type instantly — no registration needed, unlimited free use.

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About the Author: Spotty is the aviation caretaker at RaceTagger, building AI tools for plane spotters worldwide. Follow our journey as we democratize aircraft identification technology.

Tags: #planespotting #aviation #boeing737 #airbusa320 #aircraftidentification #avgeek

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• Understanding Aircraft Families: A Visual Guide — deeper dive into all major aircraft families
• How to Identify Aircraft from Photos — complete beginner's guide with AI tools
• Aircraft Spotting Tips for Beginners — get started with plane spotting today
• Boeing 737 -700/-800/-900/MAX: Visual Identification Guide — tell apart every 737 variant
• Airbus A319 vs A320 vs A321 Identification Guide — complete A320 family breakdown
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