I have seen some really cool ...and amusing..aircraft Tail Numbers. Some folks are simply marvelously clever.
Over on the Vansaircraft forum one guy chose " N3773 " because when viewed inverted, it spelled his wife's name backwards. A lot of folks take their Aircraft model number and then just add letters. A Zenith 801 might be tagged as "N801xx". I think personal initials & birthday combinations are popular too. A lot of the Alaska registered planes have tail numbers that end in AK.
Folks in other countries outside the US may have even more flexibility.
Of course, easy to pronounce and understand Tail Numbers are also worth considering. A few very fortunate ham radio operators have managed to get a ham radio call sign beginning in N that matches their aircraft registration.
So, what drove your choice of Tail Number?
How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
Sun Aug 03, 2014 8:43 pm
How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
Last edited by Denali on Sun Aug 03, 2014 10:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:06 pm
Re: How did you choose your personaized Tail Number??
Personally, as much as I like a call sign thats easy to say, I'd want it to be hard to remember if seen. I'm sure thats self explanatory...
Sun Aug 03, 2014 9:41 pm
Re: How did you choose your personaized Tail Number??
My first was both a salute to the 99s because I had hopes my wife would become a pilot as well as a sequence I expect to be the last I forget - my birthday: 9951
My second because I have given up on the FAA and our congress (anybody else pissed off by the FAA announcement today that building a plane in a hangar is not appropriate?) and am in the midst of purchasing an experimental LSA, is N303SN. If you turn the 3s around appropriately and forget there is only one S, you have "Wo Essn?" - where should we eat - which is my typical mission.
I asked a few of my flying buddies to confirm I hadn't chosen some combination with horrific connotations and they said no, and I ran it by my wife and thought that rolled eyes was not a veto.
My second because I have given up on the FAA and our congress (anybody else pissed off by the FAA announcement today that building a plane in a hangar is not appropriate?) and am in the midst of purchasing an experimental LSA, is N303SN. If you turn the 3s around appropriately and forget there is only one S, you have "Wo Essn?" - where should we eat - which is my typical mission.
I asked a few of my flying buddies to confirm I hadn't chosen some combination with horrific connotations and they said no, and I ran it by my wife and thought that rolled eyes was not a veto.
Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:40 am
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
Denali wrote:I have seen some really cool ...and amusing..aircraft Tail Numbers. Some folks are simply marvelously clever.
Over on the Vansaircraft forum one guy chose " N3773 " because when viewed inverted, it spelled his wife's name backwards. A lot of folks take their Aircraft model number and then just add letters. A Zenith 801 might be tagged as "N801xx". I think personal initials & birthday combinations are popular too. A lot of the Alaska registered planes have tail numbers that end in AK.
Folks in other countries outside the US may have even more flexibility.
Of course, easy to pronounce and understand Tail Numbers are also worth considering. A few very fortunate ham radio operators have managed to get a ham radio call sign beginning in N that matches their aircraft registration.
So, what drove your choice of Tail Number?
The day I got my Zenith 801 kit, I reserved the N801BH....... I could not send my 5 dollar check in fast enough in case someone else wanted that same N number....
Ben Haas
Ben Haas
www.haaspowerair.com
www.haaspowerair.com
Mon Aug 04, 2014 8:36 am
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I chose 98VZ, for my first S-7, just because it sounds cool, saying "niner eight", followed by "victor zulu" 
I got real creative for my second S-7, thus 89VZ. I get them mixed up from time to time, but it doesn't seem to matter much (maybe the current owner of 98VZ feels different?) 
I got real creative for my second S-7, thus 89VZ. I get them mixed up from time to time, but it doesn't seem to matter much (maybe the current owner of 98VZ feels different?) - courierguy offline
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"Its easier to apologize then ask permission"
Tex McClatchy
Tex McClatchy
Mon Aug 04, 2014 8:56 am
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
From what I was told, my Registration N1237, was selected because 1234, 1235, 1236 wasn't available 
I also have ATC ask for full call sign if on initial contact, I don't say "full call sign N1237"… for whatever that's worth.
Seems like they always want or expect five characters.
237…. not 234
I also have ATC ask for full call sign if on initial contact, I don't say "full call sign N1237"… for whatever that's worth.
Seems like they always want or expect five characters.
237…. not 234
'80 A185F
Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:59 am
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
Since I own a Cessna 185 Skywagon I thought it would be cool to get N185. So that is what I have on the plane N185.
Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:04 am
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I know John McBean, who owns Kitfox Aircraft chose N102YB for his personal plane. It is a reminder to him to work before play, "Tend To Your Business".
My Kitfox was Dan Denny's personal plane, built in 1985. Thus the tail number N85DD.
My Kitfox was Dan Denny's personal plane, built in 1985. Thus the tail number N85DD.
- SkySteve offline
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Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:20 am
Re: How did you choose your personaized Tail Number??
rjb wrote:anybody else pissed off by the FAA announcement today that building a plane in a hangar is not appropriate?
Got a source? I can't get google to point me to anything like that.
- rw2 offline
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Follow my Flying, Cooking and Camping adventures at RichWellner.com
Mon Aug 04, 2014 11:39 am
Re: How did you choose your personaized Tail Number??
rw2 wrote:rjb wrote:anybody else pissed off by the FAA announcement today that building a plane in a hangar is not appropriate?
Got a source? I can't get google to point me to anything like that.
Here's EAA's take
Mon Aug 04, 2014 12:38 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FA ... 534-1.html
The EAA organization puts an "interesting" spin on the story. My opinion is that the EAA hopes to find common ground with Huerta because they don't believe they have any other choice than rely on his good will. I think FAA actions under Huerta show he has no good will towards GA
The EAA organization puts an "interesting" spin on the story. My opinion is that the EAA hopes to find common ground with Huerta because they don't believe they have any other choice than rely on his good will. I think FAA actions under Huerta show he has no good will towards GA
Mon Aug 04, 2014 2:27 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
My first airplane was a Champ, N3115E. So when I built my first airplane (RV-4) I gave it the number N311SV, my first plane's reg and my initials. My current aiplane is N612SV
6 = Rans S6
1 = First one of those that I've built
2 = Second airplane I've built
SV = that's still me.
6 = Rans S6
1 = First one of those that I've built
2 = Second airplane I've built
SV = that's still me.
Mon Aug 04, 2014 3:53 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I bought a 1946 plane that had been changed registration numbers twice from the original. Last time was ending in GF - golf foxtrot. Even though my name started with G - I found it really really hard to say on the radio. It sucked. I took it back to the original N-Number - cause it's what it was born with and the numbers are easier to say.
Unless I can get 3 letters on the end - I'd like to stick to things that are easy to say. But I'd love to have a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot #.
Unless I can get 3 letters on the end - I'd like to stick to things that are easy to say. But I'd love to have a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot #.
- soyAnarchisto offline
- Posts: 1975
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- Location: Boulder, CO
- Aircraft: 1955 Cessna 180
Mon Aug 04, 2014 4:15 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I just like to say "Foxtrot Tango". I learned most of what I know about flying in a Cessna 150 known as 714FT. So the 701 will get number N74FT because it's shorter and smaller. My pickup truck is known by the same number. If I ever get two airplanes at the same time the other one will get N714FT in honor of my poor dead Cessna that somebody killed. I hope his parts live on somewhere. This was my 1600th post. Get a life.
Mon Aug 04, 2014 5:11 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I always wanted 4Q but it's taken.
It was my old AMA number back when dinosaurs were teenagers.
237
It was my old AMA number back when dinosaurs were teenagers.
237
'80 A185F
Mon Aug 04, 2014 7:35 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
Maybe part of choosing a Tail Number is making sure it is easy to say and understand. Letters like Sierra, Juliet Romeo are all three syllables. Tray saying " seven seven sierra juliet " and it is a mouthful. vs say "one two mike tango " . I just made these up so no offense intended to the owners, if any, of these Tail Numbers.
Also certain letters seem to really punch into the mid-range frequencies. For example " victor tango' seems to have a lot of sonic presence. I used t be active in ham radio, so maybe I am reading too much into this ?
Also certain letters seem to really punch into the mid-range frequencies. For example " victor tango' seems to have a lot of sonic presence. I used t be active in ham radio, so maybe I am reading too much into this ?
Mon Aug 04, 2014 8:40 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
I flew a Cessna 401 for a company out of Chandler AZ...
Eight-Zero-Zero-Sierra-Sierra. 800SS. I f**king hated that call sign, and was never able to say it smoothly.
Gump
Eight-Zero-Zero-Sierra-Sierra. 800SS. I f**king hated that call sign, and was never able to say it smoothly.
Gump
Mon Aug 04, 2014 9:00 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
My first cessna 150 was C-GWCD. I loved saying whiskey charlie delta. Then went on to my Citabria which was C-GNRT. Golf november romeo tango is a mouthful. Now I have C-FNZJ. Still a mouthful. Foxtrot for me is is clumsy to say. I wish we had numbers in Canada instead of all letters...
Mon Aug 04, 2014 9:15 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
There is a J-3 with "N5EX". The 5 is curvy enough to look like a S
- Aviatorpa11 offline
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- Aircraft: 1947 Piper PA-11
Mon Aug 04, 2014 10:27 pm
Re: How did you choose your personalized Tail Number??
soyAnarchisto wrote:I bought a 1946 plane that had been changed registration numbers twice from the original. Last time was ending in GF - golf foxtrot. Even though my name started with G - I found it really really hard to say on the radio. It sucked. I took it back to the original N-Number - cause it's what it was born with and the numbers are easier to say.
Unless I can get 3 letters on the end - I'd like to stick to things that are easy to say. But I'd love to have a Whiskey Tango Foxtrot #.
If you can't use WTF, you could always use the urban contraction... DF
"Da' Foxtrot is going on here?"
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