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Planes v. cars: Passenger jets have fewer quirks and variations

Question: Owners of cars, trucks and motorcycles, especially older models, learn the quirks of their vehicles and how to safely compensate for them while driving. It made me wonder if flight crews recognize individual planes when their airlines own dozens or hundreds of the same model. Are modern commercial aircraft maintained so precisely that individual airplanes of the same model do not have unique mechanical or electrical quirks that pilots notice in flight? How often do pilots at major airlines fly the exact same (by tail number) airplanes? – John, West Lafayette, Indiana

Answer: Pilots fly many different airplanes of the same model within a fleet. While there are some differences, they fly pretty much the same. Manufacturers strive to produce airplanes that are very similar. Pilots can tell individual characteristics of a particular airplane within a fleet if it has sustained damage and been rebuilt.

On a typical trip series, pilots frequently change airplanes during their duty day.