For any of you that aren’t aviation geeks, a tail or N-number is like a license plate for an airplane.  It’s how the FAA keeps records on your airplane, and it is what you use to identify yourself to air traffic control or other pilots.

Even though I’m years away from flying, I submitted paperwork to the FAA several days ago to reserve an N-number of my choice.  The advantage of reserving a number early is that you can obtain one that means something to you rather than having one assigned randomly.

The format for N-numbers is a “N” followed by 1 to 5 letters and/or numbers.  You can only use one or two letters and they have to be the last digits of the number.  When you submit the reservation paperwork, you list up to five N-numbers in your order of preference.  With this in mind, I came up with five numbers that were available, but I really only liked the top three.

Today, the FAA registry showed that my top choice, N714EJ, had been reserved in my name.  I chose this number because I’m building a RV-7A, it is my 1st build, and it is 4 Ethan Jacoby.  I also appreciate that 7-1-4-echo-juliet and 4-echo-juliet (the abbreviated version of  N-number which is used more often on the radio) are very easy to say.

Not that I need more motivation to build, but having an N-number reserved is like giving the project an official name.  Once you name it, it’s tough to give it up!