Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
I thought the N number more or less stayed with the aircraft throughout it's life. How could you lose so many :isadizzy:It can, and in most cases does. The owner can request a new "N" number and the owner is required to notify the FAA of any transfer of ownership. It's not always complied with. If you go to the FAA website, there is (or was, I haven't been there in a little while) a registration number search page. As the atricle states, often an owner fails to tell the FAA when a plane is scrapped or left derelict. Many "N" numbers are listed as assigned to an aircraft but are listed as inactive or have info from years ago on file. Sadly the FAA is behind the curve again.Maybe now would be a good time to "acquire" an aircraft.I thought the N number more or less stayed with the aircraft throughout it's life. How could you lose so many :isadizzy:
Probably this is why airplane registration is now going to last only three years. Thus if someone fails to re-register the N-number is free.

After reading that article, I don't feel so bad about misplacing one of Deb's loaf baking pans. It's all about perspective, you see. I lost one little clear glass baking pan....compare that to the FAA losing 119 thousand big ol' airplanes....my transgression is actually quite tiny...almost microscopic. Now I just need to get Deb to have the same perspective.
OBIO