In the world of aviation, the icon of long distance travel is the 4 engined aircraft and it is synonymous with the Boeing 747 and the Airbus A380. However, technological advancements of the jet engine since the 1970s has enabled manufacturers to focus on twin jet aircraft.
In 1973, the western world was hit with a massive oil crisis and airlines that had a generous fleet of Boeing 747s were in trouble. Filling up such a larger plane that is hungry for fuel is an issue especially when going through a recession.
Today, most airlines would use a twin jet aircraft no matter the distance or destination. However, aviation enthusiasts would still have better reassurance flying in a 4 engined aircraft. Unfortunately, airlines would prefer the most profitable and fuel efficient aircraft.
