From: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [LML] N-numbers
To: lml
Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 23:06:50 -0500
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Posted for "Bill&Sue" <5zq@cox.net>:

  
  
> Can anyone tell me  if there is a  width and spacing requirement  for 12 
> inch N-numbers ?  Thanks,  Bill Hogarty
> 
  
  
  Oh yeah, Bill. There are very detailed specifications for the markings in 
FAR
part 45. Here are some excerpted examples. I have highlighted in red sections
that are particularly pertentant to our homebuilt airplanes.
  
  Bill Harrelson
  N5ZQ 320 1,150 hrs
  N6ZQ  IV   6.09978%
  
  
  
  § 45.29   Size of marks.
  top
  (a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, each operator of an
aircraft shall display marks on the aircraft meeting the size requirements of
this section.
  
  (b) Height. Except as provided in paragraph (h) of this part, the 
nationality
and registration marks must be of equal height and on-
  
  (1) Fixed-wing aircraft, must be at least 12 inches high, except that:
  
  (i) An aircraft displaying marks at least 2 inches high before November 1,
1981 and an aircraft manufactured after November 2, 1981, but before January
1, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft is repainted or the marks
are repainted, restored, or changed;
  
  (ii) Marks at least 3 inches high may be displayed on a glider;
  
  (iii) Marks at least 3 inches high may be displayed on an aircraft for which
the FAA has issued an experimental certificate under §21.191 (d), §21.191 (g),
or §21.191 (i) of this chapter to operate as an exhibition aircraft, an
amateur-built aircraft, or a light-sport aircraft when the maximum cruising
speed of the aircraft does not exceed 180 knots CAS; and
  
  (iv) Marks may be displayed on an exhibition, antique, or other aircraft in
accordance with §45.22.
  
  (2) Airships, spherical balloons, nonspherical balloons, powered parachutes,
and weight-shift-control aircraft must be at least 3 inches high; and
  
  (3) Rotorcraft, must be at least 12 inches high, except that rotorcraft
displaying before April 18, 1983, marks required by §45.29(b)(3) in effect on
April 17, 1983, and rotorcraft manufactured on or after April 18, 1983, but
before December 31, 1983, may display those marks until the aircraft is
repainted or the marks are repainted, restored, or changed.
  
  (c) Width. Characters must be two-thirds as wide as they are high, except 
the
number "1", which must be one-sixth as wide as it is high, and the letters "M"
and "W" which may be as wide as they are high.
  
  (d) Thickness. Characters must be formed by solid lines one-sixth as thick 
as
the character is high.
  
  (e) Spacing. The space between each character may not be less than 
one-fourth
of the character width.
  
  (f) If either one of the surfaces authorized for displaying required marks
under §45.25 is large enough for display of marks meeting the size
requirements of this section and the other is not, full-size marks shall be
placed on the larger surface. If neither surface is large enough for full-size
marks, marks as large as practicable shall be displayed on the larger of the
two surfaces. If any surface authorized to be marked by §45.27 is not large
enough for full-size marks, marks as large as practicable shall be placed on
the largest of the authorized surfaces.
  
  (g) Uniformity. The marks required by this part for fixed-wing aircraft must
have the same height, width, thickness, and spacing on both sides of the
aircraft.
  
  (h) After March 7, 1988, each operator of an aircraft penetrating an ADIZ or
DEWIZ shall display on that aircraft temporary or permanent nationality and
registration marks at least 12 inches high.
  
  [Doc. No. 2047, 29 FR 3223, Mar. 11, 1964, as amended by Amdt. 45-2, 31 FR
9863, July 21, 1966; Amdt. 45-9, 42 FR 41102, Aug. 15, 1977; Amdt. 45-13, 46
FR 48604, Oct. 1, 1981; Amdt. 45-15, 48 FR 11392, Mar. 17, 1983; Amdt. 45-17,
52 FR 34102, Sept. 9, 1987; 52 FR 36566, Sept. 30, 1987; Amdt. 45-24, 69 FR
44863, July 27, 2004]