by CJP Executive Director Jon “Huggy” Huggins

N510AZ is the registration of John Hayes’ aircraft. As John says:

“I bought my TBM700 from Don Baker, and it was N700ZZ. Well, no one was able to easily say “zero-zero-zulu-zulu” – not the pilots I flew with, not air traffic control. Everyone said I HAD to change it. I considered changing it to zero-zero-ALPHA-zulu, but I kept it on the TBM the entire time.

“Later, when I bought my Mustang, I decided to change it. However, instead of a “zero zero”, I became a “one zero” since my Mustang was already “N510″. I added the “AZ” which I had wanted on the old TBM, and N510AZ is the jet I have today.

“Additionally, since I spend half of my time in Arizona, the “AZ” gives me a nice tip-of-the-hat to the state I often fly it to.”

Do you have an interesting story about how you selected your ‘N’ number? Share your “tails” with CJP and you may be featured in an upcoming issue of Flight Levels! Please send a photograph highlighting your N-number and a brief explanation to rob@robfinfrock.com