Anyone own a vintage Warbird N-number?

[Chris Brame]

I notice fellow Wixer aerovin (Scott Thompson) owns an RV-8 with the N-number of a former B-17 air tanker. Now I've never owned a warbird (flew in one, once) but it looks like from the FAA site that for a ten-spot, anyone can reserve a number if it's available. I thought it might be fun to own the number of a certain ex-civil warbird that's now and forever USAF museum-bound, and it's definitely available, so... even though it won't be used on an airplane again it would be like owning a little piece of history.

What do you guys think? Would the FAA frown on it?

[Joe Scheil]

I don’t think they would care....technically you don’t really own it. You rent it for $10.00 a year. If that is ok with you, the FAA will gladly take your money!

[JohnB]

I agree, the feds wouldn't care.
However I believe they did freeze Earhart's Electras N-number....don't really know why. Hardly a federal concern.
And perhaps they have also blocked N(X)211?

Me, I want N975B...but it's been taken on various aircraft for years.

Last edited by JohnB on Wed Jul 25, 2018 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

[phil65]

The FAA would know or care.

Phil

[pitts91hs]

My SNJ-4 has an N number that was previously used on a P-51. I don't know which one.
I tried to help Gerry Beck obtain N 19998 for his A model Mustang. The number on the P51 prototype was NC 19998 .
At the time the number was on a C172 in Lubbock but the owner did not want to relinquish it. The 172 was later destoyed in a fire and the number became available but somebody else acquired it.

[T J Johansen]

My SNJ-4 has an N number that was previously used on a P-51. I don't know which one.

N6171C which crashed in France in 1998?

T J

[ZRX61]

However I believe they did freeze Earhart's Electras N-number....don't really know why. Hardly a federal concern.

Probably to prevent Gillespie from slapping it on a Cessna 172 & claiming he'd found her Lockheed...

[DH82EH]

I heard of a corporate jet owner that wanted a particular reg.
It was on a G.A. aircraft. The Business mogul said "Well just buy that plane!"

Andy

[michaelj2k]

I've always wanted 41144. http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/53
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=41144

[Cubs2jets]

I've always wanted 41144. http://www.threestooges.net/filmography/episode/53
http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?omni=Home-N-Number&nNumberTxt=41144

According to your FAA link, the aircraft was exported and deregistered. So, for $10 you can own the N number of your dreams.

C2j

[Matt Gunsch]

I have the number from Carl's T-6 reserved, and prior to being on the 6, it was on a UH-1 Huey, so, is that a double warbird number ?

[Fearless Tower]

I heard of a corporate jet owner that wanted a particular reg.
It was on a G.A. aircraft. The Business mogul said "Well just buy that plane!"

Andy

That’s one way to do it.

My 1933 Waco had lost its original N# when a previous owner changed it to a personalized one back in the 50’s. The number was put back into circulation and ended up on a 172.

When my airplane was being restored, they reached out to the 172 owner and I believe they offered to pay the cost of having the refistration repainted in exchange for the original number.

[JohnB]

A friend was restoring a very rare type, his example had crashed "back in the day", was recovered and now he was returning it to the air.

It's N-number (actually NC when it was on his aircraft) had been given to a crop sprayer.
Since his aircraft would be so rare, he wanted the original number.
He offered the AG pilot $2000 and the cost of a partial repaint (the nice thing about AG planes is they don't have to have perfect paint).
The restoration took 3-4 years. When it was time to register it he discovers the AG ship had crashed and the number was available for $10.

It worked out okay for him...

[Noha307]

I agree, the feds wouldn't care.
However I believe they did freeze Earhart's Electras N-number....don't really know why. Hardly a federal concern.
And perhaps they have also blocked N(X)211?

You weren't kidding. N[R]16020 is "permanently reserved" to Amelia Earhart. Fascinating, I've never seen anything like that. It was reserved on 19 February 1988, so if any commemorations or other events related to her happened around that date, they are probably the cause. Also, it has an assigned mode S code. Seems like someone should have checked for her transponder during the search...

Also, N[X]211 is registered to the EAA's replica Spirit of St. Louis.

[wacoykc]

There are a number of T-6's flying with original Waco N numbers. There were at least three on the line at Oshkosh this year with them.