ADS NOT DISPLAYED TO REGISTERED USERS.
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 9 of 9

N number question

Basic Discuss N number question in the Current forums; A question about N numbers. I am working on a display that will include a J-3 Cub in front of ...

  1. #1
    Senior Member hawkeye2an's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    St Joseph, Missouri
    Posts
    1,046
    Country
    United States

    N number question

    A question about N numbers. I am working on a display that will include a J-3 Cub in front of a dealer's hangar in the 1930s. As you can see, I have no way of knowing the N number involved. If it hasn't been sold yet, would it have an N-number? or were they assigned like auto license plates to the new owner?

    Attached Images
    14. Avoid that destructive disease known as "tinkeritis;" when the motor is working satisfactorily, leave it alone.
    From Curtiss JN-4 handbook

  2. #2
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    20,531
    Country
    United States
    "N" numbers really came about in the mid-late 1930s when the Federal Government finally took control of air commerce. Prior to that some states were trying to regulate and license aircraft and pilots from what I understand. That looks like a J-3 and more than likely it should have an N number that would begin with "NC."

  3. #3
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    48
    Country
    United States
    In my opinion, more likely a Piper J-2, with Continental A-40 showing

    My '38 Aeronca KCA had "improved" A-50 which looks outwardly more modern, but is a cough really better than a wheeze??!! I miss her terribly, but she is still flying just as you see her here, in '06:

    http://www.popularaviation.com/PhotoGallery/3646.JPG

    "NC" registration, was re-applied at time of restoration, mid-late 70's(?). Originally alotted to and applied by the manufacturer. Piper in photo would have been the same.

  4. #4
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    20,531
    Country
    United States
    Quote Originally Posted by packardpursuit View Post
    In my opinion, more likely a Piper J-2, with Continental A-40 showing.
    Actually you are correct - You can tell by the curve of the aft side windows.

    Quote Originally Posted by packardpursuit View Post
    My '38 Aeronca KCA had "improved" A-50 which looks outwardly more modern, but is a cough really better than a wheeze??!! I miss her terribly, but she is still flying just as you see her here, in '06:

    http://www.popularaviation.com/PhotoGallery/3646.JPG

    "NC" registration, was re-applied at time of restoration, mid-late 70's(?). Originally alotted to and applied by the manufacturer. Piper in photo would have been the same.

  5. #5
    Senior Member hawkeye2an's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    St Joseph, Missouri
    Posts
    1,046
    Country
    United States
    Quote Originally Posted by packardpursuit View Post

    "NC" registration, was re-applied at time of restoration, mid-late 70's(?). Originally alotted to and applied by the manufacturer. Piper in photo would have been the same.
    So you are saying that this airplane WOULD have N number at the dealership, even if it wasn't sold yet?

    If so, any suggestions on how I go about finding what it might have been?
    14. Avoid that destructive disease known as "tinkeritis;" when the motor is working satisfactorily, leave it alone.
    From Curtiss JN-4 handbook

  6. #6
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    20,531
    Country
    United States
    Quote Originally Posted by hawkeye2an View Post
    So you are saying that this airplane WOULD have N number at the dealership, even if it wasn't sold yet?

    If so, any suggestions on how I go about finding what it might have been?
    Actually it would have been "NC."

    I can't find anything specific on what it would be besides starting with "NC." Many of these numbers were replaced in 1966. You could try these folks.

    J3-Cub.com Home

  7. #7
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    20,531
    Country
    United States

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Posts
    48
    Country
    United States
    Generally speaking, standard category licenced aircrt have an indentitiy as soon as the manufacturer assigns it one. This usually happens during assemblyat the factory and stays with the aircraft until it no longer officially exists. In the case of restored aircraft, the paperwork's existance is often enough to resurrect an aircraft that may no longer exists physically, and have it officially recognized as that aircraft Another way to go might be if the just the data plate, installed at the factory, was still extant.

    In the case of MANY WWII aircraft now flying, some wrecks have become others. It's quite a game. But if one can pull it off? Why not?

  9. #9
    IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO FLYBOYJ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Colorado, USA
    Posts
    20,531
    Country
    United States
    Quote Originally Posted by packardpursuit View Post
    Generally speaking, standard category licenced aircrt have an indentitiy as soon as the manufacturer assigns it one. This usually happens during assemblyat the factory and stays with the aircraft until it no longer officially exists. In the case of restored aircraft, the paperwork's existance is often enough to resurrect an aircraft that may no longer exists physically, and have it officially recognized as that aircraft Another way to go might be if the just the data plate, installed at the factory, was still extant.

    In the case of MANY WWII aircraft now flying, some wrecks have become others. It's quite a game. But if one can pull it off? Why not?
    All true - actually if you have a portion of the airframe and a data plate, you can basically build an older aircraft from the ground up. CubCrafters have been doing it for years. Where I work at we have 7 PA-18s that were "rebuilt" from the ground up, In reality they were brand new aircraft when delivered to us.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Request about Fl number
    By Hesekiel in forum Technical Requests
    Replies: 17
    Last Post: 04-08-2009, 05:59 AM
  2. Spitfire MK XIV tail number - question
    By airann in forum Aviation
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-17-2008, 01:45 PM
  3. Three is the magic number....III
    By Lucky13 in forum OFF-Topic / Misc.
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 12-29-2007, 08:00 AM
  4. Number of Engines
    By the lancaster kicks ass in forum Aircraft Requests
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 01-08-2006, 12:18 AM
  5. Problems with the number 18
    By reddragon in forum Corrections / Suggestions
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 12-06-2005, 03:48 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91