Obtaining Title for Data Plates

[Eli Josephs]

Actually the aircraft might not be destroyed. Here is the last sheet I have:

It occurred to me that the other plate and some parts might be for sale by someone else, who I'll have to check with, but for now let's assume this plate is still the only surviving part. Either way, Aero Service Corp is long out of business.

As far as getting the FAA onboard, why should it be a bigger issue than building a data plate P-51? I have all the drawings, and if it passes airworthiness why should it be an issue?

EDIT: The person who might have had parts for this same aircraft recently sold his business, and the new owners won't be available until April 2018. I don't have a contact number either. I am, of course, talking of Jay Wisler at http://www.warbird-parts.com . If memory serves right he had a plate, paperwork, and parts for a 17 that was on the civil registry. I can't remember the serial or registration though.

Thanks,

EJ

[rwanttaja]

You're in luck, in one way at least...looks like N5845N was deregistered in October of 1959, but the N-number has not yet been reassigned.

Ron Wanttaja

[Eli Josephs]

I doubt that Jay has this aircraft.

So, here's where I stand: I can't get a chain of title (previous owners are out of business, likely passed away). I'm not sure if the aircraft is officially listed as destroyed or not, because it supposedly crashed in Saudi Arabia (1959). With that as it is, is it possible to get a new title and re-register the N number?

[Bill Berson]

Airplanes don't have titles, they have registrations, slightly different. I think you need a complete chain of bill of sales to get a current registration in your name.
A simple data plate has no value, as far as I know. I had some Aeronca data plates and threw them away.

[Eli Josephs]

Airplanes don't have titles, they have registrations, slightly different. I think you need a complete chain of bill of sales to get a current registration in your name.
A simple data plate has no value, as far as I know. I had some Aeronca data plates and threw them away.

Thanks Bill. Is there any chance you know where I could find a regulation talking about this?

[Bill Berson]

Thanks Bill. Is there any chance you know where I could find a regulation talking about this?

I don't know the regulation. But this is what you need: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certifi...ster_aircraft/

Without a bill of sale, no way to get it registered.
Even if you could prove ownership, do you have any logbook records to get a duplicate Airworthiness Certificate?

[Eli Josephs]

I don't know the regulation. But this is what you need: https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certifi...ster_aircraft/

Without a bill of sale, no way to get it registered.
Even if you could prove ownership, do you have any logbook records to get a duplicate Airworthiness Certificate?

No logbook records that I know of, but I'd expect there to be records from the military about its service (flight hours, maintenance, etc). Not sure if that counts...

As as far as bill of sale, I can get one from the current owner recording OUR transaction, but nothing before. It's not clear about how far back it needs to go, just from my scanning of the info and looking through the enclosed bill of sale link.

[martymayes]

As far as getting the FAA onboard, why should it be a bigger issue than building a data pliate P-51? I have all the drawings, and if it passes airworthiness why should it be an issue?

Go to para 4....

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...ar/AC43-17.pdf


I know what was done in the past and some of the stories are further embellished with each passing yr. but today what you suggest is simply not going to fly with the feds. You can’t manufacture a plane and install a data plate from another plane - legally anyway. Now, if you have a B17 with a data plate, you can repair that plane and it’s good to go.

[martymayes]

You can certainly reserve the N number with the FAA registry.

[Eli Josephs]

Go to para 4....

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/...ar/AC43-17.pdf


I know what was done in the past and some of the stories are further embellished with each passing yr. but today what you suggest is simply not going to fly with the feds. You can’t manufacture a plane and install a data plate from another plane - legally anyway. Now, if you have a B17 with a data plate, you can repair that plane and it’s good to go.

I don't have any parts of an airframe. All parts would be brand new, and specific to the data plate. That FAA advisory seems to be implying that I have an airframe, or part of one, and want to slap a data plate onto it, whereas my actual goal is near the opposite.

In this case, serial 42-102542 which is a late B-17G-50-BO. The Boeing drawings would make an identical copy, specific to the serial number 42-102542. The only difference would be the atoms themself, in this case I would want to upgrade 2024 aluminum to a higher grade which is stronger and deteriorates slower, probably 6061.

EDIT: I have done 3-D CAD work based off of 43-38083, and done work for "Desert Rat," but I have not and will not make any physical parts until I have a plate and it is registered, at which point I will rework my model to the correct serial number.