Changing tail numbers

Ken Thompson

Ken Thompson

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I think this post belongs in this forum because it has to do with with ATC communication.

I just brought home my "new" Ercoupe. N99825. It rolls off the tongue pretty well: niner niner eight two five. But, I also have the tail number reserved from a 172 I owned nearly 40 years ago. For some reason it was deregistered. I saw that it was available so I paid the ten bucks to reserve it and am considering registering the Ercoupe to N739RC.

Seven three niner Romeo Charlie doesn't roll off the tongue quite so easily BUT I find it much easier to pick up when ATC is calling me, like in a Flight Following situation. The "Romeo Charlie" kind of jumps out at me more than the string of numbers.

Does that make sense? I wouldn't change the tail number just to change it, but I have a sentimental attachment to that reserved number. The fact that it will be more easily recognized on a busy frequency is a big selling point.
 
Ken Thompson said:
I think this post belongs in this forum because it has to do with with ATC communication.

I just brought home my "new" Ercoupe. N99825. It rolls off the tongue pretty well: niner niner eight two five. But, I also have the tail number reserved from a 172 I owned nearly 40 years ago. For some reason it was deregistered. I saw that it was available so I paid the ten bucks to reserve it and am considering registering the Ercoupe to N739RC.

Seven three niner Romeo Charlie doesn't roll off the tongue quite so easily BUT I find it much easier to pick up when ATC is calling me, like in a Flight Following situation. The "Romeo Charlie" kind of jumps out at me more than the string of numbers.

Does that make sense? I wouldn't change the tail number just to change it, but I have a sentimental attachment to that reserved number. The fact that it will be more easily recognized on a busy frequency is a big selling point.
Click to expand...

If you want to change it, go for it. I personally prefer N numbers with letters at the end as opposed to full numbers. Also makes calls involving transponders or frequencies a bit easier to remember when you use letters instead of numbers. Can get those jumbled up if you aren't paying attention.
 
I've had N962TM reserved for a couple of years now for use on an RV-7 someday. Tango Mike has been my ATC operating initials for 26 years. It also sounds like my name when someone calls me by my operating initials at work.
 
Ken Thompson said:
I think this post belongs in this forum because it has to do with with ATC communication.

I just brought home my "new" Ercoupe. N99825. It rolls off the tongue pretty well: niner niner eight two five. But, I also have the tail number reserved from a 172 I owned nearly 40 years ago. For some reason it was deregistered. I saw that it was available so I paid the ten bucks to reserve it and am considering registering the Ercoupe to N739RC.

Seven three niner Romeo Charlie doesn't roll off the tongue quite so easily BUT I find it much easier to pick up when ATC is calling me, like in a Flight Following situation. The "Romeo Charlie" kind of jumps out at me more than the string of numbers.

Does that make sense? I wouldn't change the tail number just to change it, but I have a sentimental attachment to that reserved number. The fact that it will be more easily recognized on a busy frequency is a big selling point.
Click to expand...
Yes it makes sense. 3 numbers and 2 letters is pretty much the best combination. Not only for you picking it out of all the other transmissions but for controllers also. They screw up that combination less than just about any other. Only reason I could think of to not make the change is you can't afford the paint
 
I have thought about changing my N number more than once. It seems like N6560R gives the controllers a hard time because I have to repeat it often to correct them. That being said I now transmit the N number slowly N-6-5-6-0-R maybe it was just me saying it to fast but it seems to have helped.

My N numbers are painted on the fuselage and are 12" high and about 4" wide, that alone has discouraged me from changing the N number. There would be a lot of work involved in repainting the numbers, more than I care to deal with....

OP do what makes you happy....:)
 
My N numbers are on the tail. Two inch vinyl "Stickers." I think they ought to come off pretty easily with a good hairdryer to heat them up.
 
Ken Thompson said:
My N numbers are on the tail. Two inch vinyl "Stickers." I think they ought to come off pretty easily with a good hairdryer to heat them up.
Click to expand...

Mine too and I'm in the process of changing it now
 
I wanted to change a tail number to "N1".

Apparently it is already being used....:(
 
I had N1RN reserved for a while (it's my ham radio callsign and my initials are RN). Margy didn't want to change the Navion N number and I finally stopped renewing it. It's on some glider out in Indiana or something last I checked.
 
Changing the tail number I think is at the absolute bottom of the things I'd like to do to my airplane. But whatever floats your boat.
 
People do it all the time, I'd keep the old one too, since it's probably the original for the coupe, down the road you or someone else might want it back.
 
I had the same concern when I got my 182...it is all numbers with the last three Five Niner Eight...had plans to change it with some letter configuration to make it easier to pick out amongst the zillions of other numbers that were tossed out or frequency but in reality it became a non issue once I got used to it which happened VERY quickly.

Now if that number has sentimental value go for it...but for ease of identifying you may adapt quicker than you anticipate as I did.
 
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