Aircraft Types by Category
Aircraft types are categorised according to the main purpose for which they were designed. Sub-types (derivative versions) are listed under each type regardless of their purpose, unless they merit being listed as aircraft types in their own right.
Jetliners
Narrowbody and widebody passenger jets
Business jets
Does not include large airliner derivatives
Light planes
Small recreational and sports aircraft
Propeller-driven commercial aircraft
Regional airliners, commuter planes and utility aircraft (not including purposely-designed freighters)
Civil and military cargo planes and tankers
Aircraft purposely designed to carry cargo or carry out in-flight refuelling (does not include airliners converted as commercial freighters)
Civil special-purpose aircraft
Aircraft purposely designed for specialised functions such as water-bombers or crop sprayers
Helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft
Civil and military rotary-winged aircraft
Combat aircraft
Fighters, bombers and ground attack aircraft
Military surveillance aircraft
Reconnaissance, radar surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft
Military trainers
Training planes (often doubling up as light attack aircraft)
Military vintage and warbirds
Military aircraft types that are no longer in regular service
