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The airliner has Two Engines ... so it must be a ... ?

Most jet airliners in service today have two engines, one under each wing. Most active airliners manufactured by Boeing and Airbus have this configuration.

Regional jets from companies such as Bombardier and Embraer also often feature twin-jet configurations, with the engines under the wing or at the back of the fuselage.


There are lots of wide-body, twin-jets in use around the world. Several aircraft reside in this "twin-engine, wide-body" category, including:

  • Boeing 767, 777, and 787
  • Airbus A300, A310, A330, and A350

Spotting tips on twin-engine wide-body airliners


But it could be a narrow-body, twin-jet, with the engines under the wings. Boeing continues to manufacture the highly successful twin-engine, narrow-body 737 series, while Airbus produces large numbers of its A220 and A320 family. The Boeing 757 twin-engine is out of production but still in active usage.

Bombardier and Embraer also manufacture a series of twin-jet, narrow body airliners.

Spotting tips on narrow-body airliners with one engine under each wing


Then there are the narrow-body jets with twin-engines at the back of the fuselage. If the airliner has two engines mounted on the side of the rear fuselage, then it is probably a Boeing 717, MD-80 variant, a Bombardier CRJ jet airliner or Embraer ERJ jet airliner.

Spotting tips on narrow-body airliners with engines mounted on the back sides of the fuselage