What’s in an N-Number?

[cessna170bdriver]

Interesting reading...at least I thought so.

From the American Aviation Historical Society: http://www.aahs-online.org/articles/N-number.htm

Miles

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Very interesting. My good friend Leroy Walter's 170A is registered as N7A. N7A was originally allocated to a Goodyear blimp but has been assigned to his plane since 1949 when it was about 2 months old. I believe N1A, N2A, N3A and N4A are still assigned to Goodyear blimps.

You would think it would be cool to have a short N- number but I can assure you it is a hassle with ATC much to the detriment of Leroy's confidence with radio skills. He hates to enter any airspace that he needs to contact any authority.

Every time Leroy calls ATC he reports in with his full registration number N7A. Almost 100% off the time the controller asks for his full call sign, many controllers giving him attitude for not using the full call sign to begin with. This is when Leroy, having given his full call sign, freezes a bit not knowing what to say and why he prefers to avoid contact at nearly all cost. We have taught him to reply "N7A is my full call sign unless you want me to make something up". To my knowledge no controller as answered in the affirmative.

[cessna170bdriver]

Bruce,

Tell Leroy I'll take that number off his hands any time he wants. I can even help him find a number/letter combo that might mean something to him. I might not change '98C's registration, but I'd keep it in reserve for when (if?) I ever finish my HR2. I currently have N904KM reserved.

Miles

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hey Miles there may be a few RV7 builders join that auction with you should that happen. We know Leroy's original N # but recall it's assigned. Like I said though N7A has been on the plane since practically new and I don't think it'll be removed in Leroy's life time.

[voorheesh]

My number is N167 and I get the same comments from controllers. I have learned to call "N167, full call sign..." but most still ask to verify it. Where I live in CA, I still think VFR advisories are worth the hassle. The explanation I heard for N167 was that a former owner in Dalles, OR back in the 80s had requested a special call sign containing the numbers 167 and some extra numbers that were not available (He bought the ship out of BC where it was originally sold). He got N167 as the closest available to his request. Don't know if that's true but thats what I was told.

[GAHorn]

ONe of the coolest special-issue registrations is on an older Bonanza... one of the early ones that has been restored and kept in nice condition, I'm told. It has the number 1CE.... which when rolling out after touchdown appears to spell "NICE"

[cfzxo]

one of the more interesting call signs here in Canada was a152 in Kamloops I think, CFUFU I know that it's not a call sign that I would request unless I was mad at everybody

Bill CFZXO 170-B

[GAHorn]

So,... Bill..... YOUR present registration says "Fuzzy Kisses and Hugs"?

[jrenwick]

As amusing as it might be, who in the world would want to say "Foxtrot Uneeform Foxtrot Uneeform" all the time? I used to be in a club that had a "Three Zulu Juliet." Try saying that ten times fast! They had the airplane repainted and changed the registration number at the same time. Whew!

John

[GAHorn]

There's no simple answer to some combinations. My first job as a corporate pilot was on a Navajo N62866. I spent the majority of my time thusly:

Me: Hello Center, this is November Six Two Eight Six Six...

ATC: Was that Six Eight Two Six Eight?

Me: No, it's Six Two Eight Six Six.

ATC: Six Two Eight Six Eight?

Me: No, Six Two Eight Six Six

ATC: Six Eight Two Six Six?

Me: No, Six Two Eight Six Six

ATC: OK, I've got it now, Two Six Eight Six Six.

Me: No, Six Two Eight Six Six

ATC: OK, Well Navajo ending in Six, cleared as requested. Say request.

[SteveF]

Fro many years at Westboro Airport (3B6), closed in the mid 70’s, and subsequently Marlboro Airport (9B1), the oldest and smallest airport in Massachusetts, was a 170A with the registration N1D. I heard the plane was sold a couple of years ago and the registration was sold separately. The unsubstantiated payment for the number was supposedly around twenty thousand dollars.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hey know Leroy might consider another number if someone will pay $20K for N7A.

After the Tehachapi convention my wife and I visited the Lompac, CA ,West Coast Cub fly-in. There was a Cub in plain white with no other color or strips or markings. For a Cub the color made it stand out on its own. But to further draw your eye to the Cub on the side in big black bold italics characters was NSEX. It was so bold on the stark white fuselage you couldn't help but look at it and read it over and over.

Knowing the registration regulations I knew the N had to be followed by a number and so my eye was continually drawn to this aircraft looking for the real registration number but it was not to be found. Then I realized the S was a five or N5EX. Very clever optical illusion.

[jrenwick]

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/115051.html

[GAHorn]

I don't know how we missed each other, Bruce. After Tehachapi, Jamie and I flew direct to Lompoc and spent 3 days there with my Aunt and Uncle. We saw all those cubs, of course. I'm surprised you didn't see N146YS sitting tied down amongst all of the cubs.

Had we known, we could've offered spare rooms.

[cessna170bdriver]

Fro many years at Westboro Airport (3B6), closed in the mid 70’s, and subsequently Marlboro Airport (9B1), the oldest and smallest airport in Massachusetts, was a 170A with the registration N1D. I heard the plane was sold a couple of years ago and the registration was sold separately. The unsubstantiated payment for the number was supposedly around twenty thousand dollars.

He could probably afford it... that number is now on a Falcon 200.

Miles