1946
Year
C-GFAO — 1946 Piper J3C-65
C-GFAO is a 1946 Piper J3C-65 based in Norman Wells, Northwest Territories, listed on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register (serial 22523).
Piston single
Category
Northwest Territories
Based
181
On CA register
The aircraft
Year built1946 · 80 years old
Airframe typeWhether Transport Canada classes it as an aeroplane, a helicopter, a glider, a balloon or a gyroplane.Aeroplane
Engine typeHow the engine makes power. Piston engines run on avgas like a car engine; turboprops and jets burn turbine fuel, cost far more to overhaul, and are usually reserved for bigger or faster aircraft.Piston
Engines1
Max take-off weightMaximum take-off weight: the heaviest the aircraft may legally be when it starts its take-off roll, including fuel, people and baggage. It's the number that decides what licence and ratings you need, and what it costs to park.553 kg · 1,219 lb
Where it's based
BasedThe city or airport Transport Canada holds as the aircraft's base. Where the field holds a four-letter code like CYXE, that's the airport's ICAO identifier.Norman Wells, Northwest Territories
Transport Canada officeThe Transport Canada regional office that administers this registration. It follows the owner's address, so it isn't always the nearest office to where the aircraft actually sits.Edmonton
Identity
Serial numberThe manufacturer's own number for this individual airframe, stamped on a plate. Unlike the registration, it never changes — it identifies the aircraft across every country it's ever been registered in.22523
ManufacturerThe full legal name of the company that built it, which is often not the name on the tail. A Cessna 172 built in 2022 was made by Textron Aviation.Piper Aircraft Corporation
Built inWhere the aircraft was manufactured. Most of Canada's fleet was built in the United States.U.S.A.
ICAO 24-bit addressA unique 24-bit number your transponder broadcasts with every Mode S and ADS-B message — flight trackers key on it rather than the tail number. Canada's block runs C00000 to C3FFFF, which is why Canadian aircraft nearly all start C0 to C3. Transport Canada assigns it against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.C051EB
Registration
Registration typePrivate, Commercial or State. Commercial means the registration permits use for hire or reward — charter, flight training, aerial work. It describes the registration, not who owns the aircraft.Private
AirworthinessThe standard certificate: the aircraft conforms to its approved design and is maintained by a licensed engineer. No restrictions beyond the type's own, and it's what buyers and lenders expect to see.Certificate of Airworthiness
Basis of registrationThe rule the aircraft is registered under. Most are registered against a type certificate, meaning they're a factory design approved by the regulator; amateur-built and ultralight aircraft come in under their own standards.CAR Standard 507.02, 507.03 - Type Certificate
Type certificateThe approval number for the aircraft's design, issued to the manufacturer. Every aircraft built to that approved design shares it, so it's a good way to confirm exactly which variant you're looking at.A691
Registered sinceWhen the current registration took effect. A recent date usually means the aircraft changed hands or was re-registered — it is not the date it was built.15 May 2002
Imported to CanadaWhen the aircraft was first brought onto the Canadian register from abroad. Only recorded for imported aircraft, which is about a third of the fleet.22 July 1987
Where C-GFAO is, and how to track it
C-GFAO transmits ADS-B under the 24-bit address C051EB. Trackers key on that address rather than the tail number, so it finds the aircraft even on flights flown under a different callsign. Transport Canada assigns the address against the registration, so it changes if the aircraft is re-registered.
Most private aircraft are on the ground most of the time — if a tracker shows nothing, it is very likely parked rather than missing.
How rare is C-GFAO?
The Piper J3C-65 is common in Canada — there are 181 registered on the Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register — see every one. It's part of the broader Piper Cub (J-3, PA-11, PA-18 Super Cub) family, with 892 registered in Canada — see fleet numbers, prices and what's for sale.
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Aircraft data reproduced and distributed with the permission of the Government of Canada (Transport Canada Civil Aircraft Register). MarketPlane.ca is not affiliated with Transport Canada.