Tail numbers
- Thread starter TomBascom
- Start date
Usually when there is variation within a series it is simply because the desired numbers are not available. See, for example, AA's 757 fleet. They are mostly N6XXAA, but there is a smattering of -AM's, and even a few -AN's and -A's, even though the planes themselvs are identical.
On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.
Note that, in cases where someone REALLY wants a particular registration, it might be possible to obtain it by paying (or maybe just asking nicely) whoever owns it. This is what a certain athletic shoe manufacturer did when they wanted to register their aircraft N1KE. However, to most airlines, it's not worth the hassle.
Moving even farther off topic, the subtle humor (to an airplane geek, anyway) is not limited to aircraft registered in the U.S. Letter-based registrations offer much more room for creativity: I think the prize goes to Virgin Atlantic for such registrations as G-VRUM ("Calypso Queen"), G-VELD ("African Queen"), and 747's G-VAST, G-VBIG, and G-VXLG, not to mention what is perhaps the most appropriate name ever, "Maiden Toulouse" for an A340.
On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.
Note that, in cases where someone REALLY wants a particular registration, it might be possible to obtain it by paying (or maybe just asking nicely) whoever owns it. This is what a certain athletic shoe manufacturer did when they wanted to register their aircraft N1KE. However, to most airlines, it's not worth the hassle.
Moving even farther off topic, the subtle humor (to an airplane geek, anyway) is not limited to aircraft registered in the U.S. Letter-based registrations offer much more room for creativity: I think the prize goes to Virgin Atlantic for such registrations as G-VRUM ("Calypso Queen"), G-VELD ("African Queen"), and 747's G-VAST, G-VBIG, and G-VXLG, not to mention what is perhaps the most appropriate name ever, "Maiden Toulouse" for an A340.
ITRADE
Veteran
Off-topic, but what was that airline that flew for Eagle when the J-31 crashed at RDU back in '94?[BR][BR]Friendship?[BR][BR]Flagship?[BR][BR]I flew into RDU that evening and it was a miserable night with all the ice.
ITRADE
Veteran
[P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/3/2002 8:48:28 AM AAG2000 wrote:
[P]Usually when there is variation within a series it is simply because the desired numbers are not available. See, for example, AA's 757 fleet. They are mostly N6XXAA, but there is a smattering of -AM's, and even a few -AN's and -A's, even though the planes themselvs are identical.[BR][BR]On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.[BR][BR]----------------[/P][/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Weren't CCAirs J-31s actually former Eagle J-31s that were RDU based craft? Hence the Nxxx[STRONG]AE[/STRONG] designator[/P]
[BLOCKQUOTE][BR]----------------[BR]On 12/3/2002 8:48:28 AM AAG2000 wrote:
[P]Usually when there is variation within a series it is simply because the desired numbers are not available. See, for example, AA's 757 fleet. They are mostly N6XXAA, but there is a smattering of -AM's, and even a few -AN's and -A's, even though the planes themselvs are identical.[BR][BR]On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.[BR][BR]----------------[/P][/BLOCKQUOTE]
[P]Weren't CCAirs J-31s actually former Eagle J-31s that were RDU based craft? Hence the Nxxx[STRONG]AE[/STRONG] designator[/P]
ITRADE
Veteran
Thanks, as always, AOG, for that complete response!
[blockquote]
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On 12/3/2002 8:55:45 AM ITRADE wrote:
[BLOCKQUOTE]
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On 12/3/2002 8:48:28 AM AAG2000 wrote:
Usually when there is variation within a series it is simply because the desired numbers are not available. See, for example, AA's 757 fleet. They are mostly N6XXAA, but there is a smattering of -AM's, and even a few -AN's and -A's, even though the planes themselvs are identical.
On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.
----------------[/P][/BLOCKQUOTE]
Weren't CCAirs J-31s actually former Eagle J-31s that were RDU based craft? Hence the Nxxx[STRONG]AE[/STRONG] designator[/P]
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[/blockquote]
CCAir's J-31's were bought new from BAE..They were procured under the leadership of Roy Haggerty. The Maintenance hangar was located in HKY (Hickory N.C.)..and was built for them/us by BAE..along with Haggerty's personal bonus of a new Jaguar as a thank you gift.
The J-31's were purchased under the banner of Piedmont Commuter..hince all the tail number suffixes ending with "PC"..with the noted exceptions of a couple being leased toward the latter years with the JX suffix from Jetstream International , now PSA. Those acft were 693JX and 803JX.
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On 12/3/2002 8:55:45 AM ITRADE wrote:
[BLOCKQUOTE]
----------------
On 12/3/2002 8:48:28 AM AAG2000 wrote:
Usually when there is variation within a series it is simply because the desired numbers are not available. See, for example, AA's 757 fleet. They are mostly N6XXAA, but there is a smattering of -AM's, and even a few -AN's and -A's, even though the planes themselvs are identical.
On the other hand, sometimes the numbers correspond to the manufacturer's serial number, rather than the airline's fleet number, resulting in gaps in the numeric sequence. The old CCAir Jetstreams were registered N9XXAE, where 9XX was BAe's serial number.
----------------[/P][/BLOCKQUOTE]
Weren't CCAirs J-31s actually former Eagle J-31s that were RDU based craft? Hence the Nxxx[STRONG]AE[/STRONG] designator[/P]
----------------
[/blockquote]
CCAir's J-31's were bought new from BAE..They were procured under the leadership of Roy Haggerty. The Maintenance hangar was located in HKY (Hickory N.C.)..and was built for them/us by BAE..along with Haggerty's personal bonus of a new Jaguar as a thank you gift.
The J-31's were purchased under the banner of Piedmont Commuter..hince all the tail number suffixes ending with "PC"..with the noted exceptions of a couple being leased toward the latter years with the JX suffix from Jetstream International , now PSA. Those acft were 693JX and 803JX.
