The public debut of an Airbus A350-1000 without airline livery has rocked the aviation world. Rarely before has a manufacturer unveiled a new plane without the logo of an established carrier. This has given rise to speculation that the aircraft concerned either has no buyer or one that wishes to remain anonymous and has raised questions and rumours about the A350’s popularity among airlines.

You might think that this is just gossip for aircraft industry insiders. However, our ageless curiosity about aviation has reached new heights thanks to the popularity of social media. When Airbus or Boeing hold an event to launch a new model, it is live-streamed, tweeted and otherwise broadcast immediately – the news moves faster than the plane itself. The conversation that ensues unpacks every minute detail, indulging a global fascination.

While this may not have any bearing on the price or comfort of your next long-haul flight, there can hardly have been a better time to be an online plane spotter.