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• MSN (also known as construction number or c/n) are allocated by aircraft manufacturers to identify individual airframes, and uniquely designate aircraft on their airworthiness certificate.
• Each manufacturer has its own policy regarding MSN allocations. Generally MSN is simply an incremental numeric figure within an aircraft program. Some exceptions are Boeing and (McDonnell) Douglas using a unique number for all their aeronautics products and allocating them at contract (instead of manufacture) time, and former Soviet manufacturers allocating a number also based on assembly plant location, date of roll-out and sometimes coupled with pseudo-random digits.
• MSN plate are attached to the aircraft during final assembly and uniquely identify the airframe during its product life.
• Fuselage numbers is a distinct airframe identification used by some manufacturers and also fully supported by ATDB databases.
• Details for new-built aircraft for delivery more than 3 months in the future is available only with a professional subscription or above.

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