How do i pick an airplane to purchase?
Wed Oct 21, 2009 2:47 pm
No picking jokes please!
My boss says find a 182 Skylane. Have been looking a trade-a-plane. I thought first i should keep up with the ads so i know what is a new ad and old ad. Some AC have a huge amount of hrs on the airframe. Isn't that a negative? I am kinda targeting low airframe and low engine hrs and low prop hrs. Instrumentation is driving me bonkers. Planning on spending 100k or less.
Most of the flights will be in the Midwest only. Boss previously owned a P210 and has about 2500 hrs.
Tips or thoughts appreciated
My boss says find a 182 Skylane. Have been looking a trade-a-plane. I thought first i should keep up with the ads so i know what is a new ad and old ad. Some AC have a huge amount of hrs on the airframe. Isn't that a negative? I am kinda targeting low airframe and low engine hrs and low prop hrs. Instrumentation is driving me bonkers. Planning on spending 100k or less.
Most of the flights will be in the Midwest only. Boss previously owned a P210 and has about 2500 hrs.
Tips or thoughts appreciated
Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:33 pm
Versatile,
I would take a good hard look at a Mooney product if you have that $$ to spend. For the $$ you are looking at you can get a low hour Mooney with an nice avionics suite that has a fast cruise and low fuel burn.
Keep in mind I have never owned an aircraft but have been interested in purchasing in the future.......some day!
Regards,
Mark
I would take a good hard look at a Mooney product if you have that $$ to spend. For the $$ you are looking at you can get a low hour Mooney with an nice avionics suite that has a fast cruise and low fuel burn.
Keep in mind I have never owned an aircraft but have been interested in purchasing in the future.......some day!
Regards,
Mark
Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:16 pm
do it scientifically....eeny meeny miney mo.... catch an airplane by it's toe...... you know the rest!! 
Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:23 pm
What will you be using it for? What experience level do you already have? What do you think you can budget for it each month?
Ryan
Ryan
Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:36 pm
Get a Lancair IV
Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:34 pm
Versatile: The first thing is that your boss need to define the mission requirements. Next, define the principle pilot and their experience. From there, you can start narrowing the prospects down to basic design. Now factor purchase cost, recurring expenses, expected utilization rates and you can further narrow the acceptable aircraft models. From there, hit the various type clubs for the buying guides. Once you have decided on a particular model, age, time allowances and equipment, start haunting the Trade-A-Plane site, as well as Controller and other publications. Find someone that knows the particular model well and get them lined up for a prepurchase inspection. Now, start talking to owners/agents for listed aircraft. Have your research done, at hand and the normal questions already prepared so that you can get comparable info on any aircraft you call on. Be prepared to spend some upfront bucks on the inspection and for travel for the inspection.
Be prepared, have everything ready for when you find the aircraf that best fits the needs and above all, have the capital ready, but don't let eye candy or the latest gee whiz stuff blind you to potential problems.
One last thought, don't be a time wasting tire kicker...people like that tend to really torque off sellers....
Be prepared, have everything ready for when you find the aircraf that best fits the needs and above all, have the capital ready, but don't let eye candy or the latest gee whiz stuff blind you to potential problems.
One last thought, don't be a time wasting tire kicker...people like that tend to really torque off sellers....
Wed Oct 21, 2009 7:49 pm
barnstormers.com is also a good source for airplanes for sale. Just FYI.
Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:58 pm
There are lots of them around, so just make sure you get a good one. Find a very good IA and pay him to do a pre-buy inspection (like an annual inspection). Even if you have to send the guy somewhere on an airliner to do the inspection, you'll be money ahead compared to fixing up a lemon.
High hours might indicate a worn out training bird. Low time is no guarantee either though. There may be damage history not recorded in the logbook or repairs might have been performed poorly. The IA doing your pre-buy inspection should be able to spot problems like that.
High hours might indicate a worn out training bird. Low time is no guarantee either though. There may be damage history not recorded in the logbook or repairs might have been performed poorly. The IA doing your pre-buy inspection should be able to spot problems like that.
Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:01 pm
P.S. Over the years I have had friends that purchased wrecks from the insurance company and did a fantastic repair job. Properly repaired (and documented) work might allow you to get a really good value because of the "damage history."
Sat Oct 24, 2009 5:24 am
Hard to go wrong with a nice 182. forgiving plane, plenty o power and you can probably sell it for what you paid. if this is your 1st airplane give it a shot. I personally like to have a Garmin 430, with weather capability is nice to have. anything more than that is really overkill in the Avionics department financially IMHO. PM me if you'd like.
Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:43 am
This is a great time to buy an airplane. Look around as there are great deals out there!
If your boss wants a 182, then that part of the criteria is set. Otherwise, give some thought as to how the airplane will be used. For instance, there are airplanes out there that will give nearly 182 speeds and range for far less $ if you don't need the payload of the 182.
Engine time: A low time engine that has gone a long time since overhaul (eg a 500 hr engine that was overhauled 12 years ago) has little or no more value than a high time engine. Engines don't like to sit and do generally have a year as well as an hour value specified for TBO so find out how many years ago the overhaul was done.
Equipment/Radios: It pays to be patient and find one equipped the way you want it. It's almost always cheaper to buy with the desired equipment installed than to pay to have it installed yourself. Personally, I would not buy an airplane without in this catagory without an IFR GPS, preferably with a moving map display, but that's just me.....
Lastly, as has been said earlier, have a thorough "pre buy inspection" done by a mechanic of your choice that you are paying. Be sure this includes a thorough (extremely thorough) review of the logbooks.
FWIW
If your boss wants a 182, then that part of the criteria is set. Otherwise, give some thought as to how the airplane will be used. For instance, there are airplanes out there that will give nearly 182 speeds and range for far less $ if you don't need the payload of the 182.
Engine time: A low time engine that has gone a long time since overhaul (eg a 500 hr engine that was overhauled 12 years ago) has little or no more value than a high time engine. Engines don't like to sit and do generally have a year as well as an hour value specified for TBO so find out how many years ago the overhaul was done.
Equipment/Radios: It pays to be patient and find one equipped the way you want it. It's almost always cheaper to buy with the desired equipment installed than to pay to have it installed yourself. Personally, I would not buy an airplane without in this catagory without an IFR GPS, preferably with a moving map display, but that's just me.....
Lastly, as has been said earlier, have a thorough "pre buy inspection" done by a mechanic of your choice that you are paying. Be sure this includes a thorough (extremely thorough) review of the logbooks.
FWIW
Mon Oct 26, 2009 8:48 am
We had a similar conversation here, Versatile: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/p ... sc&start=0
We're owners of an older Mooney as you'll read in the other thread. It is economical to operate and maintain (relative to some other retractable/complex/high performance airplanes), but short on room and hauling capacity.
One of the things you have to consider is your experience. If you've got a fair number of hours (including a bunch in complex or high performance) in your logbook the insurance company won't be so hard on your wallet.
Keep us posted!
Scott
We're owners of an older Mooney as you'll read in the other thread. It is economical to operate and maintain (relative to some other retractable/complex/high performance airplanes), but short on room and hauling capacity.
One of the things you have to consider is your experience. If you've got a fair number of hours (including a bunch in complex or high performance) in your logbook the insurance company won't be so hard on your wallet.
Keep us posted!
Scott
Mon Oct 26, 2009 10:34 pm
What ever you deciede, make sure you have a pre-purchase done, and DO NOT use the shop or mechanic that has been taking care of the plane, I could tell you a horror story about someone that did that.
If you need any help or information just ask, I have done alot of 182 prepurchases in the past.
If you need any help or information just ask, I have done alot of 182 prepurchases in the past.
Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:16 am
Make sure U FIX IT after he gets it. 