Airliners, like other aircraft, carry multiple means of identifying them uniquely. At the factory, they are assigned a "Manufacturer's Serial Number" (MSN), similar in concept to the alphabet-soup VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on automobiles familiar to those of us in the U.S. In addition, and also like automobiles virtually everywhere, once in service they also receive a registration from the appropriate governmental authority. Often referred to as a "reg" (pronounced with a soft 'g' sound, as opposed to the hard 'g' in "regulation"), or not uncommonly in the U.S., as a "tail number", these identifiers are displayed visibly on the aircraft, to the delight of aircraft spotters everywhere.
Airliners, like other aircraft, carry multiple means of identifying them uniquely. At the factory, they are assigned a "Manufacturer's Serial Number" (MSN), similar in concept to the alphabet-soup VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on automobiles familiar to those of us in the U.S. In addition, and also like automobiles virtually everywhere, once in service they also receive a registration from the appropriate governmental authority. Often referred to as a ...
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