Top 10 Best Commercial Aircraft of All Time

Aircraft have evolved massively since the early days of flight. It's tough to compare the classics and modern marvels, but some planes truly rose above the rest.

Was there one model that was just better in every way? Or perhaps an entire family of aircraft that changed the way we fly? Some offered groundbreaking comfort, others shattered speed records, and more transformed the entire concept of budget air travel.

The debate is always fun, so we want to hear what you think. Vote for the choices you believe should reign supreme as the greatest commercial aircraft of all time.
The Top Ten
Boeing 777

Masterpiece. It's reliable, efficient, and safe. There's no better way to describe it. It's also ahead of its time. Just look back to the 2000s, whereas the A350 thinks it can compete with a plane 30 years older than it.

The Boeing 777 is the biggest single-floor aircraft with two engines. First introduced in 1994, it is a popular aircraft and is the sixth-safest aircraft. Rating: 8/10

Technically, the most reliable aircraft in the skies for both passengers and airlines. Taking Emirates as an example, the 777 is the backbone of the company's success. Several records have been established by this plane, and its design is probably the most aesthetically pleasing design to date. With the upcoming 777x, airlines have already placed record-breaking orders, which again shows how reliable this aircraft is. Overall, it is the best commercial airplane in the skies.

Boeing 747

How did the A380 get up here? I mean, they are saying it will be put out of production in 2020! The 747, by the way, has been flying for over 50 years. *Cough cough* The A380 is a failure and a waste of money.

The amount of money wasted is over 20 billion dollars. Good job, Airbus. You gave yourself a bad name. Oh, over 2,500 of the 747 have been produced, which is a lot for a large plane, especially of this size. The 747 should be the king of the skies, not the queen, because it is the definition of moving forward in aviation as well as state-of-the-art technology.

Oh yes, Airbus supporters, don't get angry about this. Oh yes, the A350 - *cough cough* - fake 787, disgraceful and rude. Don't get me started on how the A380 looks.

Airbus A380

This big boy was truly amazing. Some airlines (except Emirates) had the A380, but retired them due to the cost of fuel since it has 4 large engines. Because of that, not many airlines operate it anymore.

But don't get me wrong, I still like the A380.

The Airbus A380 is an amazing aircraft. With its high-capacity passenger layout, it can carry up to 853 passengers. Not only that, but the efficiency of this gentle giant is unmatched by any other aircraft. The Airbus A380 also boasts an array of high-tech equipment and avionics, making it, like all Airbus aircraft, safe, reliable, efficient, easy to fly, comfortable, and much more. The entire plane is a beautiful feat of engineering and design, and no other aircraft can compete with it.

Concorde

The first-ever supersonic passenger plane made its first transatlantic crossing on September 26, 1973. British Airways and Air France stopped flying them in 2003. Truly an amazing plane.

The Concorde was a much better aircraft than its Soviet counterpart, the Tupolev Tu-144. Although the Tu-144 may have come out earlier than the Concorde, it was involved in numerous accidents due to design flaws. This clearly showed that it had been rushed to beat the Concorde to the market and was generally considered a noisy and uncomfortable aircraft. The Concorde was involved in only one fatal crash, which was caused by the aircraft running over a strip of metal that had fallen off a DC-10.

Boeing 787

Truly ahead of its time with its advanced technology and range. Honestly, the A350 is just a larger copy with a different design and an Airbus logo slapped onto it.

This aircraft has a modern interior and a very nice business class. But there is one disadvantage: it used to catch fire a lot. Now it's back, and it's so quiet with very good fuel efficiency. Rating: 9/10

The 787 is a plane not made out of aluminum, which means it's stronger and can carry more passengers and cargo. It can go farther than a 767 and 757, so it will replace those planes in the future.

Overall, it is a better plane and will replace more aircraft. Despite its small size, the 787 can carry a lot of passengers, including first class. So it's small, but also big. It's a very good airplane.

Boeing 737

I have literally flown on almost every series of this plane. It has come a very long way from the original 100/200 series. That flight was on a "Metro Jet". I remember the red livery like it was yesterday.

Then, working for Southwest, I have flown on the 300 series, the 400 series, the 500 series, and of course, the 700 series. Recently, I flew on the 900 series. This plane has come a very, very long way, and none of my flights have resulted in fear or anxiety.

I get more worked up over having to fly on an Airbus A321. I've grown to appreciate the workhorse Boeing 737 series. It's the do-all of the short- to medium-range commercial jets.

Lockheed L-1011 TriStar

I can't believe this! This great jet should be in the top 3 because of its S-ducted, center-lined aft engine and horizontal flying stabilizer. It was the world's first aircraft to use carbon fiber in its rear spars!

I know this because I was there, in buildings 175/146 at B-1 Burbank. To even come close to the smooth-flying L-1011, you would have to cross a DC-9 or Super 80 with a 727. Even then, you would still be lacking in size, hands-free landings, and quality.

Lockheed discontinued the jet because they were losing money on their "build it your way, no extra charge" motto. A man named Les once told me he was a former L-1011 salesman who was paid not to show up to airlines that wanted the jet!

Airbus A330

The Airbus A330 is low-cost, similar to the Airbus A320, but it has low noise and is versatile. The only problem is that some versions are very noisy. Rating: 8/10

This is a truly elegant plane, but the only reason I put it on here is because it is literally the butter machine.

Well, the ride quality isn't as good. However, the fuel efficiency is decent.

Airbus A350

This is my favorite plane ever made. Why you ask? Well, first of all, this big boy is one of the quietest planes I know, so fewer people will get hearing problems after an A350 flight.

Also, I really like the forward gear tilt. It just makes the A350 look cool. And last, in my opinion, this is the perfect airplane size. Let's all hope that this king will not retire for a long time.

This plane is truly the most modern airplane on this list. While the CSeries is a newer aircraft and still nice, it can't compete with the mighty A350. Its size nearly competes with the 777. It's more fuel-efficient than the 787. Its winglets, or "sharklets," are better than those on the 737. It has a longer range than the 747. It's quieter than the 757. And it's sleeker than the 767. While it's still at the beginning of its service, this aircraft will outperform the competition.

Boeing 727

I was a flight attendant, and we all loved flying the 727-200. Not so much the 727-100 - it was awkward and discombobulated to work on. The 200 was safe, spacious, and you always felt secure.

My first jet flight was on a PSA 727-200 in 1970. I used the airstairs to disembark at SAN.

The Newcomers

? Vickers Viscount

Bloody noisy, but comfortable to fly in.

? Airbus A350 XWB

The A350 XWB is one of the most advanced aircraft. It's a great mix between fitting in with the rest of the Airbus family and leading with innovations. It's an aircraft of the future.

The A350 XWB is a technologically advanced twinjet that was meant to compete with the Boeing 787. This plane is unique in its own ways and is still an efficient, long-range, and comfortable aircraft.

It is an incredibly new plane with high-level technology. It is only one inch narrower than the 777 but five inches wider than the 787. The range of the -900ULR that comes out in 2018 will be able to fly the route from Sydney to London direct, as well as Singapore to Newark direct.

The Contenders
Douglas DC-3

A plane that changed everything and doesn't know what retirement is. Almost a century after her first flight, she just keeps flying for war and peace. Try to name any aircraft that could come near her in service record.

At one time, nearly every passenger airplane in the world was a DC-3. It did more to move commercial aviation forward than any other plane.

It's not the quickest nor the quietest, but it has charm and character. It's a truly cool plane and a thrill when you rarely see one.

Boeing 767

The Boeing 767 is arguably the best cargo aircraft. It was the first plane to be equipped with a CAT III ILS system. Still in commercial service with Delta Airlines and United. Rating: 8/10

Okay, as a flight attendant, this was one of my favorite planes to fly on. It's not so big that it's ridiculous, but it's big enough and comfortable to work on, as well as to travel as a passenger. I don't think you'll find anyone who didn't like the 767, or the 76 as we called it.

It's a great, safe, comfortable all-around aircraft. Loved it!

This is the most comfortable plane to fly. Designed by pilots for pilots, it's a great plane. Boeing should focus more on efficient engines instead of designing something new with so many problems. They should concentrate on making what is good even better and stop competing with Airbus for heaven's sake.

Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 was the first widespread jet aircraft. It was very popular in the late 1960s. A very successful aircraft, it is still in military service. Rating: 6/10

Sleek and beautiful, the 707 is the granddaddy of all commercial Boeing jets. Despite being based on 1950s technology, the 300 series with its JT3D fanjets could fly for nearly 12 hours nonstop, at over 600 mph, and reach a ceiling of 42,000 feet.

It's long forgotten but remains one of the most influential jets of all time.

God bless the 707! It's an immaculate aircraft and was an extreme advance in aviation technology. I love the engines - thank you, Pratt and Whitney JT3D!

McDonnell Douglas DC-10

After all the kinks were worked out in the '70s, and despite initially deserving its bad reputation, the DC-10 became a favorite among flight attendants. We loved working on this plane, largely because we had a Lower Lobe Galley to retreat to. This provided us a break from the passengers and allowed for uninterrupted relaxation.

Passengers also loved it because there was a large area in the back for stretching, and there were four bathrooms situated straight across the back of the plane. We miss you, "the 10," as we called it!

Airbus A320

I completely agree that many people here are mixing up the discussion and focusing only on where the plane was made. Anyway, I've been on the 747, 767, 737, 727, and 757. As for Airbus, I've flown on the 320, 330, 340, and 380.

The 320 was my favorite for a number of reasons. However, what I find weird is that the 320 is ranked behind the 787 by several planes. I didn't see any Airbus sitting on the ground for four months!

The A320 is one of the greatest aircraft out there. Why else would there be more A320 sales than the 737NG? Most major airlines prefer it for short-haul flights. With its innovative ideas, it is a leader in aviation!

Boeing 757

The 757 is elegant in every way. It looks the way a commercial aircraft should look. Paired with Rolls-Royce engines, it has one of the highest thrust-to-weight ratios of any commercial aircraft.

The 757 is the most versatile (if not overpowered) commercial jet ever built. It should not have gone out of production. Essentially, it's a jack-of-all-trades for routes up to 4,000 miles in length.

The 757 is a cool aircraft with a nice cockpit. I've been in it about 11 times, and I love the fast takeoffs.

Airbus A300

It looks decent and had an advanced cockpit for the time it flew. I'm trusting you about it being a K-Mart 767.

First twin-jet plane. Not that good-looking - just revolutionary, really.

McDonnell Douglas MD-11

The MD-11, the twin of the DC-10, is newer, nicer, and more modern, but not necessarily better. It frequently had electrical and video problems. While it looked nice, most passengers were unhappy because their video systems didn't work on long flights, leading to many complaints. As a flight attendant, it was an okay airplane to work on, but it lacked a lower lobe galley to escape to. Additionally, the MD-11 didn't offer as much stretching space for passengers compared to its older sister, the DC-10. This was because of the all-main-floor galley design, which took up more cabin space than its predecessor. Not my favorite!

Airbus A321

If Boeing had a rival for this plane, it would be the 757.

Airbus A320neo

Very efficient. Small but has a very good flying range. New engines, wings, and more. A perfect small commercial airplane.

All you love about the A320 CEO but better. Outselling the 737 MAX for a reason!

Boeing 777x

This plane is what you actually call a masterpiece. It's reliable, efficient, and safe, all put into one plane. I think everyone thought that the Boeing 777 included the -X model.

De Havilland Comet

I would like to recognize this aircraft as being the first ever to use jet engines. Its only fault (and the biggest one that doomed the aircraft) was its extremely thin skin and poor design, which were prone to metal fatigue.

It was a tragedy. Two Comets were brought down by flying bombs. When the metal fatigue finally gave way, the aircraft ripped itself into pieces. This aircraft honestly could have done better, but by the time they improved the Comet, it was too late. Boeing had already introduced the 707, and the Comet slowly disappeared from aviation.

Piaggio P180 Avanti
Embraer E-190

I have already flown on this plane, and in my opinion, it has a smoother landing than an Airbus 330.

This plane is one of my favorites, as it has the best engine sound ever, in my opinion. Also, this plane can climb really fast for its engine power.

Very balanced for such a small plane.

Dash 8 Q400

Great runway performance, payload capacity, and efficiency.

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