Contest ID & N Numbers

Contest ID & N Number Decals

General Description

Contest ID & N Numbers - Sailplanes are required to have a unique Contest ID made of two or three letters/numbers when entering a competition. It's typical for non–competing sailplanes also to have a Contest ID. Normally 12″ characters are used on the vertical stabilizer and 24″ characters are placed under the right wing. See SSA requirements below. Identification is commonly placed on trailers, wing wheels, tow bars, rigging systems and cars. We recommend Arial Bold type font for Contest ID's.

The FAA has font requirements for “N Numbers”. See below. We print N Numbers with FAA font style.

N Numbers are printed without slant. Custom options are available.

Please be aware when ordering 24″ numbers and letters – they may be printed individually due to space limitations.

We use only the best materials. Our high gloss premium film is rated for 7 years of continuous outdoor use. It is the thinnest on the market at 2 mils. This is an air-egress film. If a small bubble develops during installation, it will disappear in just a few days.

Please allow up to 48 hours to process your custom order.

Each letter/number/character is sold individually.

Unless otherwise specified Contest IDs are sold in ALL CAPS ARIAL BOLD type font. N Numbers are sold in FAA-type font style.

Colors Available (see bottom of page):

• Red
• Blue
• Grey
• White

HOW TO ORDER EXAMPLE (See also "Orderig Examples" tab in Resource Folder):

You would like two sets of 12″ “TG” in Blue for the tail. You would like one set of 24 inch “TG” in Blue for under the wing. You would like three sets of 2″ “TG” in Blue for your wing wheel, tail dolly and tow bar.

In the "Select Size" dropdown choose 12″ Letter or Number. In the "Select Color" dropdown choose Blue. In the "Qty" put 4. Add to Cart, then go back to Contest ID & Numbers web–page.

In the "Select Size" dropdown choose 24" Letter or Number. In the "Select Color" dropdown Choose Blue. In the "Qty" put 2. Add to Cart, then go back to Contest ID & Numbers web–page.

In the "Select Size" dropdown choose 2" Letter or Number. In the "Select Color" dropdown choose Blue. In the "Qty" put 6. Add to cart. Check Out.

IMPORTANT. During checkout at step 6 is where you can indicate special requests or additional information.

It is the customers' responsibility to determine installation and suitability. Use a word processor to print your Contest Letters in ARIAL BOLD. Study the width proportion to height ratio. This is a custom order and not returnable. Allow up to two business days to process. Call to verify if you need same day shipment. Wings & Wheels does not install Contest ID's or N Numbers on wing wheels, tail dolly's, wing riggers or tow bars.

Custom font and colors are available. Call for pricing and details.

SSA Contest Rules

6.2 Contest ID

6.2.1 Each entrant must have a unique Contest ID, consisting of one to three characters (letters or digits). If more than one entrant wishes to use a certain ID, preference will be given first to the entrant using an ID officially assigned by the SSA and second to the entrant who first registered for the competition.

6.2.2 The Contest ID shall be displayed in a contrasting color on both sides of the vertical tail (minimum height 12 inches) and under the right wing (bottom of ID toward the trailing edge of the wing; minimum height is the smaller of 24 inches or 90% of the wing chord excluding a control surface).

FAA “N Number” Markings

N–Numbers consist of a series of alphanumeric characters. U.S. registration numbers may not exceed five characters in addition to the standard U.S. registration prefix letter N. These characters may be:

• One to five numbers (N12345)
• One to four numbers followed by one letter (N1234Z)
• One to three numbers followed by two letters (N123AZ)

To avoid confusion with the numbers one and zero, the letters “I” and “O” are not to be used.

Contest ID & N Number prices vary depending on selections above.

Other requirements:

• Registration numbers N1 through N99 are strictly reserved for FAA internal use.
• An N–Number may not begin with zero. You must precede the first zero in an N–Number with any number 1 through 9. For example, N01Z is not valid.
• The FAA no longer issues numbers beginning with NC, NX, NR, or NL. On some older aircraft, these numbers may be displayed in accordance with FAR Part 45.22

14 CFR 45.25 Location of marks on fixed–wing aircraft.

(a) The operator of a fixed–wing aircraft must display the required marks on either the vertical tail surfaces or the sides of the fuselage, except as provided in § 45.29(f).

(b) The marks required by paragraph (a) of this section must be displayed as follows:

 (1) If displayed on the vertical tail surfaces, horizontally on both surfaces, horizontally on both surfaces of a single vertical tail or on the outer surfaces of a multi–vertical tail. However, on aircraft on which marks at least 3″ high may be displayed in accordance with § 45.29(b)(1), the marks may be displayed vertically on the vertical tail surfaces.

 (2) If displayed on the fuselage surfaces, horizontally on both sides of the fuselage between the trailing edge of the wing and the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer. However, if engine pods or other appurtenances are located in this area and are an integral part of the fuselage side surfaces, the operator may place the marks on those pods or appurtenances.

14 CFR 45.29 – Size of marks.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, each operator of an aircraft must 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″ high, except that:

 (i) An aircraft displaying marks at least 2″ 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″ high may be displayed on a glider;

 (iii) Marks at least 3″ 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, non–spherical balloons, powered parachutes, and weight–shift–control aircraft must be at least 3″ high; and

(3) Rotorcraft, must be at least 12″ 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 must be placed on the larger surface. If neither surface is large enough for full–size marks, marks as large as practicable must be displayed on the larger of the two surfaces. If no surface authorized to be marked by § 45.27 is large enough for full–size marks, marks as large as practicable must be placed on the largest of the authorized surfaces. However, powered parachutes and weight–shift–control aircraft must display marks at least 3″ high.

(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 must display on that aircraft temporary or permanent nationality and registration marks at least 12″ high.