Wiktionary
n. (alternate form of lang=en tailnumber)
Wikipedia
A tail number refers to an identification number painted on an aircraft, frequently on the tail.
Tail numbers can represent:
- An aircraft registration number (civil aviation)
- United States military aircraft serials
- United Kingdom military aircraft serials
Usage examples of "tail number".
The tail number was that of an aircraft assigned to the GRU command staff.
An American F-14, tail number 221, rolled away to the left, a MiG-21 matching him roll for roll.
The tail number of the aircraft was known--it could hardly be missed, painted as it was on the wreckage of the aircraft, and that was as easily checked by reporters as by federal authorities.
He memorized the tail number to report to the wing intelligence troops.
Once the plane had an appropriate paint job and tail number, no one would be able to tell from the outside that the plane was anything but a civilian airliner.
The tail number was 101, but he knew that Commander Alex Caton, the squadron's CO, was in the squadron's offices hard at work on his contribution to the plan of battle for the Alpha Strike Magruder was organizing.
The zero-zero tail number designated it as the CAG's aircraft, and it was usually kept in top shape.