Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Boeing 787 Dreamliner – Boeing's 787 Dreamliner has been in commercial service since 2011. There are currently two variants -- the 787-8 and the 787-9 (pictured). Its unique jagged nacelle (engine cover) makes it easy to spot. Hide Caption 1 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Airbus A350XWB – The new generation Airbus A350XWB entered commercial service in January 2015. There are three sizes -- the A350-800, A350-900 and A350-1000 -- but the only one in service now is the A350-900. Plane-spotting tip: It's the only airliner with curly wingtips. Hide Caption 2 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Boeing 737 – Chances are you've flown on a 737, which has been around since 1967 and is the best-selling airplane of all time. It comes in several variants. To distinguish it from the Airbus A320, look at the nose. It's pointier. Hide Caption 3 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Airbus A320 – The A320 is one of the world's best selling aircraft thus a popular sight on runways around the world. Its forward tail is straight and flush with the fuselage, unlike its short-haul rival, the Boeing 737, which has a V connection (see previous photo). Hide Caption 4 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Airbus A330 – The wide-body twin-engine Airbus A330 is primarily used on medium to long-range flights. It has a large wing tip and a pointed nose. It comes in two sizes -- the A330-200 and the longer A330-300 -- and has been in service since 1994. Hide Caption 5 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Boeing 757 – On November 28, 2005, Boeing wrapped up the 23-year run of the single-aisle 757 passenger airplane with the delivery of the 1,050th and final plane to Shanghai Airlines. There are still hundreds of them in service though. They come in two versions -- the 757-200 and the 757-300. Hide Caption 6 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Boeing 767 – The 757 is often confused with Boeing's larger 767. Coming in three size variants, the 767 was the company's first wide-body twin-jet and took its first flight in 1981. Differences between the two Boeing families include size, nose shape and position of the front wheel. Hide Caption 7 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Airbus A340 – Only the Airbus A380, the A340 (pictured) and Boeing 747s have four engines. Unlike the Boeing 777, the A340 has a conical exhaust vent. Expect to see fewer A340s in the skies as the years pass given Airbus stopped producing them in 2011. Hide Caption 8 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Boeing 777 – The Boeing 777 family comes in two sizes -- the 777-200 and the 777-300. How to know you're looking at a Boeing 777-300? It's longer than other single-deck planes and has five doors on each side of the aircraft. Hide Caption 9 of 11

Photos: Popular planes and how to recognize them Airbus A380 – No prizes for picking this one out of the skies. In 2007, the four-engine Airbus A380 "superjumbo" took the place of the Boeing 747 as the world's largest passenger jet, first entering commercial service with Singapore Airlines. It's the only aircraft with two decks. Hide Caption 10 of 11