Explainers

Seven longer pieces built on the same FAA file: how the codes work, where the lines fall, and how the big lines compare.

Airplane Design Groups I–VI explained
Which of the two dimensions decides, and how the 364 types split across the six groups.
Aircraft Approach Categories A–E
How the FAA reference approach speed sorts types into five categories, and the 12 listed in two.
The 118-foot wingspan line
Fourteen types stop within 2% of the Group IV limit, including every A320 and 737 variant.
The biggest aircraft by wingspan, length and height
Top-ten lists from the FAA file, and the shapes at both ends of the span-to-length scale.
Boeing 737 vs Airbus A320 family
Nearly the same wingspan today; the Airbus line covers the wider length range.
Business jet dimensions compared
Spans, lengths and tails of 60 business and personal jets, by maker and Design Group.
How aircraft families grew
Length spread, wing changes and weight growth across the 53 lines with their own page.