N-number lookup.
Type any tail number and see what the FAA has on it — the aircraft it's on, reservation and lapse dates, and whether you can get it. Checked live against the registry. Free, no signup.
How it works
- 1. Enter any N-number — with or without the leading N.
- 2.We read the FAA registry record and run the FAA's own availability check, side by side.
- 3. You get the aircraft or reservation details and one of four answers: available, reserved, on an aircraft, or in transition.
Found one you want? We reserve it in your name within 24 hours — or browse the catalog of numbers already confirmed open.
What each result means — and what to do next
Available
Nobody holds the number and it can be reserved today. Availability is first-come: a number open this morning can be gone by tonight, because reservations are processed in order of receipt. If it's one you actually want, reserve it the day you find it — either directly with the FAA for $10, or through our concierge if you'd rather have the search, filing, and confirmation handled for you.
Reserved
Someone holds an active reservation. Every reservation carries a renewal (“purge”) date — miss it and the number eventually returns to the open pool. Holders do let numbers lapse constantly, so reserved today doesn't mean reserved forever. Tell us the number and we'll let you know if it opens.
Assigned to an aircraft
The number is on an aircraft in the registry. That doesn't make it impossible: owners can move their plane to a new number and release this one to a named buyer, and some will for the right price. We approach the owner for you — or, for a quicker route, a close variant (different digit, your initials appended) is often open today in the catalog.
In transition
The FAA shows the number between states — recently lapsed, recently released, or mid-processing. These are the ones that quietly become available days later, and most people never see it happen.
A 30-second primer on N-number format
Every US registration is N followed by one to five characters: digits first (never starting with 0), up to two letters at the end, and no letter I or O anywhere — from the ground they read as 1 and 0. That yields 915,399 possible numbers, from N1 to N999ZZ. Shorter reads better on a fuselage and is dramatically scarcer — see the live census for how few are open at any moment, or the full format rules guide.
N-number lookup questions
Is this N-number lookup really live?+
Yes. Every lookup reads the FAA registry and the FAA's reservation system at the moment you ask — nothing is cached or estimated. If the tool says a number is available, it is available right now.
What do the results mean?+
Available means nobody holds the number and it can be reserved today. Reserved means someone holds an active reservation (they renew annually, so it may lapse). Assigned means it's painted on an aircraft in the FAA registry. In transition means the FAA shows it between states — often a number that is about to open.
What makes an N-number valid?+
US registration numbers start with N followed by one to five characters: digits first (the first digit can't be 0), with up to two letters at the end. The letters I and O aren't used — they read as 1 and 0 from the ground.
What does a tail number lookup show?+
For a number on an aircraft: the year, make and model, aircraft and engine type, serial number, registration status and expiry, the city and state it's registered in, and its Mode S transponder code. For a reserved number: when it was reserved and when the reservation lapses. The owner's name and address are on the full FAA record, linked under every result.
Can I get a number that's already on someone's aircraft?+
Often, yes. The owner can move their plane to a new number and release this one to you in writing — the FAA has a standard process for it. We contact the owner for you, bring back their price, and handle the letters. Nothing is owed unless the number transfers.
The number I want is available — what now?+
You can file with the FAA yourself for $10, or have us handle it: we reserve it in your name within 24 hours for a flat fee, paperwork included, with a full refund if we can't secure it.
Can I look up as many numbers as I want?+
Yes — the lookup is free and unlimited. If you're hunting for something specific, the concierge catalog lists thousands of numbers confirmed open today, sorted into short numbers, initials, birth years, and more.
How is this different from the FAA's own N-number inquiry?+
The FAA splits it into two tools: the registry inquiry tells you who holds a number, and a separate availability search tells you what's open. This lookup runs both in one step, puts the answer in plain English, and tells you what to do next — including how to get a number that's taken.
What is a purge date?+
Every reservation has a renewal date — the FAA calls it a purge date. If the holder doesn't renew by then, the reservation lapses and the number eventually returns to the open pool. A reserved result with a near-term purge date is a number worth watching.
How much does it cost to reserve an N-number?+
Filing directly with the FAA costs $10 per year. Our concierge service reserves it in your name within 24 hours for a flat $500 — search, filing, and confirmation handled end to end, with a full refund if we can't secure it.
Writing about tail numbers?
This lookup is free to link or reference in articles, forum posts, and club resources — no permission needed.