The hierarchy of concerns when buying an airplane is a predictable one. Airframe corrosion, engine condition, airworthiness directive compliance, damage history, and other such items easily top the list—and for good reason. Should any of these issues become a concern during a prepurchase inspection, massive amounts of time and money could become involved, and any of them could make the airplane one to avoid altogether.
At the very bottom of this list of concerns is the selection of a custom registration number. The airplane you’re purchasing almost certainly has one already, and unless it is difficult to enunciate with several “niners” in a row, it probably works just fine. Some argue that changing it to one of your own choosing is a trivial endeavor not worthy of the required time or effort.
