Paul wrote:

Try checking the number you're interested in. If it's in use, it'll tell
you who's the owner (address included) so I guess technically it would
be possible to "buy" any existing the N- number.

AOPA did that with one of the 172s they gave away. It cost them several thousand
dollars. At a minimum, the existing owner will have to repaint the plane.

George Patterson
A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that
you look forward to the trip.