Given the serial number NX611, she was one of the first 150 B Mk VII Avro Lancasters destined as part of the RAF’s Tiger Force in the Far East. However, Japan’s early surrender meant these aircraft were suddenly surplus to requirements and, instead of seeing service, NX611 ended up in storage at Llandow. She was stored until 1952. A/C SERIAL NO.R5868. INDIVIDUAL HISTORY. AVRO LANCASTER B.Mk.1 R5868/7325M. MUSEUM ACCESSION NUMBER 74/A/12.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Serial number from an identity document
A serial number is a unique number assigned for identification which varies from its successor or predecessor by a fixeddiscrete integer value.Common usage has expanded the term to refer to any unique alphanumericidentifier for one of a large set of objects, however not everynumerical identifier is a serial number; identifying numbers whichare not serial numbers are sometimes called nominal numbers.In data processing and allied fields in computerscience, the distinction between serial and nominal numbers isan important one.
Sequence numbers are almost always non-negative, and typicallystart at zero or one.
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Applications of serialnumbering
For more details on thistopic, see Numbering scheme.
Serial numbers are valuable in quality control, as once a defect isfound in the production of a particular batch of product, theserial number will quickly identify which units are affected.Serial numbers are also used as a deterrent against theft andcounterfeit products in that serial numbers can be recorded, andstolen or otherwise irregular goods can be identified.
Many computer programs come with serial numbers, often called'Compact Disc keys', and the installers often require the user toenter a valid serial number to continue. These numbers are verifiedusing a certain algorithm to avoid usage of counterfeitkeys.
Serial numbers also help track down counterfeitcurrency, because in some countries each banknote has a unique serialnumber.
The International StandardSerial Number or ISSN seen on magazines and other periodicals,an equivalent to the International StandardBook Number (ISBN) applied to books, is serially assigned buttakes its name from the library science use of serial to mean aperiodical.
Certificates and CertificateAuthorities (CA) are necessary for widespread use of cryptography. Thesedepend on applying mathematically rigorous serial numbers andserial number arithmetic
The RAFserial (XG900) on the Short SC.1
The term 'serial number' is also used in military formations asan alternative to the expression 'service number'. In air forces the serial number is used touniquely identify individual aircraft and is usually painted onboth sides of the aircraft fuselage, most often in the tail area,although in some cases the serial is painted on the side of theaircraft's fin/rudder(s). Because of this, the serial number issometimes called a 'tail number'.
Main article: United Kingdommilitary aircraft serials
In the case of the UK Royal Air Force (RAF) the 'Serial'takes the form of two letters followed by three numbers, e.g.,BT308—the prototype Avro Lancaster, or XS903—an English Electric LightningF.6 at one time based at RAF Binbrook[1]. During the Second World War RAFaircraft carrying secretequipment or that were in themselves secret had '/G' added to theend of the serial, the 'G' signifying 'Guard', denoting that theaircraft was to have an armed guard at all times while on theground, e.g., LZ548/G—the prototype deHavilland Vampirejetfighter, or ML926/G—a deHavilland Mosquito XVI experimentally fitted with H2S radar. Prior to thistwo-letter, three-number scheme, the RAF and preceding Royal FlyingCorps (RFC) utilised a serial consisting of a letter followedby four figures, e.g., D8096 - a Bristol F.2Fighter currently owned by the Shuttleworth Collection, orK5054 - the prototype Supermarine Spitfire. The serialnumber follows the aircraft throughout its period of service.
Recenly, FDA published a draft guidance for theindustry to adopt the idea on prescription drug packages [1].This measure will enhance the traceability of the drugs available on themarket and add the strength of depleting counterfeit drugs.
Serialnumber arithmetic
Serial numbers are often used in network protocols.However, most sequence numbers in computer protocols are limited toa fixed number of bits, and will wrap around after a sufficientlymany numbers have been allocated. Thus, recently-allocated serialnumbers may duplicate very old serial numbers, but not otherrecently-allocated serial numbers. To avoid ambiguity with thesenon-unique numbers, RFC 1982, 'Serial NumberArithmetic' defines special rules for calculations involving thesekinds of serial numbers.
Lollipop sequence numberspaces are a more recent and sophisticated scheme for dealingwith finite-sized sequence numbers in protocols.
See also
Notes andreferences
- Elz, R., and R. Bush, RFC 1982 'Serial NumberArithmetic', Network Working Group, August 1996.
- Plummer, William W. 'Sequence NumberArithmetic'. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Bolt Beranek and Newman,Inc., 21 September 1978.
- ^
Food and Drug Administration. 'Guidance for IndustryStandards for Securing the Drug Supply Chain - StandardizedNumerical Identification for Prescription Drug Packages DraftGuidance'. http://www.fda.gov/oc/guidance/drugsupplychain.html. Retrieved 19 April2009.