N numbers in Europe?!

[pete]

I recently finally made it to Abbeville, France in the Lancair Legacy on my around-the-world trip (started in Battlecreek, Michigan), on the way I noticed in Canada, Greenland, Iceland, the UK, and France all AI aircraft have N numbers. N numbers (as in N---- tail numbers) are supposed to be for the US...so what the heck is up with this?!
Normally I fly local or in the US only so I never really noticed this until this trip.
By the way, the airspace in Europe SUCKS!!! so many restrictions, I dont know how you Europeans stay sane with all the controlled airspace and restricted areas! (Here in the states we have plenty of room to play around).

[Strategic Retreat]

(Here in the states we have plenty of room to play around).

You there in the States have plenty of room, Full Stop.

Comparing China with Ireland next time?

[Mictheslik]

Whilst the majority of light aircraft in Europe carry their own national markings, there's a sizeable proportion that stay on the N reg.

When you import a plane to Britian from the US, you can choose to reregister it on the G register or choose not to. Keeping it on N has a number of advantages such as being able to use an FAA IR rating rather than a CAA IMC rating, the FAA IR being easier to get in fewer hours.

Some more info here - http://www.faaregistrations.com/

.mic

[wifesaysno]

Whilst the majority of light aircraft in Europe carry their own national markings, there's a sizeable proportion that stay on the N reg.

When you import a plane to Britian from the US, you can choose to reregister it on the G register or choose not to. Keeping it on N has a number of advantages such as being able to use an FAA IR rating rather than a CAA IMC rating, the FAA IR being easier to get in fewer hours.

Some more info here - http://www.faaregistrations.com/

.mic

Hmm, did not know that! Thanks for the info

[wifesaysno]

(Here in the states we have plenty of room to play around).

You there in the States have plenty of room, Full Stop.

Comparing China with Ireland next time?

Yeah in hindsight it was flawed comparison. The US geographically speaking is bigger. However, I know some pilots that fly corporate jets here in the US and have flown too/around Europe. When I have asked them about this issue they have all said the same thing and that because there are so many borders it limits the ability of recreational pilots to travel. But that is my fellow American's views, not Europeans that actually deal with it! Yet another reason this forum is such a wonderful place, you get to talk with aviation nuts across the pond!

[garryrussell]

At our local airport about half are N registered and some are other convenience flags like Cayman or Bermuda.

And then sevral are now Manx registered

On some days the G- seem to be in the minority, almost non existent if the flying club is up and flying

[Stewy44]

The N regos all around the world are something that bugs me a lot.

[-Crossfire-]

One of my captains on the King Air use to fly this machine.

http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1077310/.