Serial Numbers

[Brambo]

I'm just about to start an RV-7. When and/or how do you get a serial number?

[dan]

When you order your empennage kit (or was it the preview plans? I forget...) you are assigned a customer #. This is your builder #. For example mine is 70379.

Does anybody know if the original factory demo RV-7 now RV-7A is 70001, or whether the first -7 kit sold was 70001?

I also wonder what they'll do after more than 9,999 -7 kits are sold...

[keen9a]

It with the empannage kit, not the preview plans. Also, it isn't obvious on the paperwork since they call it different things everywhere (builder number, acct #, cust# . . .). Just look for a 5 digit number that starts with 7 on your invoice.

[Brambo]

OK, I have a customer #, but is this also the aircraft serial number?

[DGlaeser]

Originally Posted by Brambo

OK, I have a customer #, but is this also the aircraft serial number?

I suspect you're talking about the serial number that you have to enter on the inspection plate. Since you are the manufacturer, you get to assign whatever number you want. I'm planning to use my Van's customer number - I suspect a lot of folks do the same.

Dennis Glaeser
Working on the fuselage of #72381

[mlw450802]

Originally Posted by dan

I also wonder what they'll do after more than 9,999 -7 kits are sold...

I'm thinking jump for joy!

-mike

[dan]

Originally Posted by Brambo

OK, I have a customer #, but is this also the aircraft serial number?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer:

Sort of. Yes, in normal cases, your builder # becomes your serial #. But...if you do some sort of dodge-the-taxman type of maneuver where you register your plane as something other than an RV, you may not end up using that serial #.

But in normal cases, Van's gives you a "kit bill of sale" that ends up transforming the builder # into the kit aircraft serial #.

[ptrotter]

I've always been curious as to why Van's has to give you a bill of sale for the airplane. After all they are not selling you a plane, but a pile of aluminum, and that is probably only about 30% of the total cost of the plane. Since the builder is considered the manufacturer, I would think that I as the builder would provide the initial bill of sale. What do people do who build from plans?

[beattiema]

Brambo,
Don't confuse Serial Number with the FAA N number. 2 different animals. You don't need an N number until ready for the final inspection. But you can reserve a number ahead of time for a fee if you'd like.

http://www.faa.gov/licenses_certific...try/n_numbers/

MB

[joeboisselle]

I'm building a -4, and my builder number is 4463. I've never seen 5 digets on any of my paperwork from vans, is this my number or should I add a zero at one end of it?