I’ve been in the market for a year now. I’ve looked at adds so much I don’t need to anymore, I can simply look at the number for sale on the various sites and can tell if one is gone or been added.

I did finally find a f33a I wanted to buy a few weeks ago, went to see it,spent some time and then agreed to buy the plane for the asking price, 265k, shook hands; only problem was the owner refused to move it anywhere for a pre-buy. And after looking around there was no one qualified to do it on that airport. I finally agreed that very night to pay someone to travel to his hangar and do the work. The next AM phone rang it was the owner, he changed his mind and decided not to sell even after we made a deal. I realize many have experienced things like this, but I can’t remember ever, making a deal on a handshake and then having it go away.

So much for the prebuy and handshakes.

I had a handshake deal go away. I stopped looking at planes because I"d agree to buy (with a well defined course of action if the pre-buy turned up a problem).

Owner was going to bring the plane to my shop. Endless delays, and they the finally withdrew. I missed out on some other planes I would have bought in that time

Probably dodged a bullet. If an owner is that against a prebuy it probably has some pretty big issues.

The worst buy I ever made was as is not seen. I can’t cuss here but duels parted out and parted with my cash!
Good post brother

I helped a friend purchase a 421 recently that was on a 135 certificate. It still had some issues. I expected better from a 135 operation. The logbooks were a mess, the AD compliance list was out of date. Somehow the ADs were all complied with if you dug far enough into the books. Lots of little items that did not effect the airworthiness of the aircraft were neglected. We knew that going into the purchase.

I guess it would depend on the operator, they are attempting to be profitable not necessarily running an open checkbook.

Have bought three aircraft and sold two. None of the transactions had a pre buy, and no nasty surprises. I did inspect the aircraft and speak to the engineer who looked after the aircraft. To clarify all the aircraft were priced fairly/cheap. One was complex (MEP), the others were fixed gear, fixed pitch propeller.

I did arrange a pre buy on a C33 which was touted as complete logs and no damage history. Logs were missing pre 1974 and a shoddy repair had been carried out on some of the panels beneath the pilot. It was also a rust bucket. This aircraft was not local so the pre buy cost was written off as saving me an air fare and 14 days quarantine! On this logic I was well ahead.

Agree a pre buy is ideal, but is the pre buy to judge how much after purchase work is required? or part of the purchase contract with the seller agreeing to fix airworthiness items? or a combination of both? Some deals treat the pre buy differently.

As for an owner not willing to move his airplane somewhere distant for a pre-buy, DON'T READ TOO MUCH INTO THAT. The single worst experience of selling an airplane was a F33 Bonanza that I had bought new and had less than 300 hours on it. The broker assured me he had a good buyer with whom he had experience. The broker flew the airplane to the pre-buy 400 miles away. They proceeded to take my airplane apart and then make me an offer of 20% less because I had a valve going bad. The broker had to get a mechanic to put the airplane back together so he could bring it home.

To this day, I thank my lucky stars that I was not there. There would have been a funeral and a criminal trial.

That was 25 years ago. The current market is a nightmare and in a temporary high. Any buyer today is either desperate or of poor judgement.

LOOK AROUND **!!@%$^&. BOATS, JEEPS, SIDE BY SIDES, CAMPERS, VACATION HOMES, there is a buying frenzy coming from the government hand outs.

It will end.

The smart money is sitting on the side lines.

Jg

Have you ever backed out of purchasing a car because you changed your mind? I’m betting so, as most of us have. Why it seems to be okay to change ones mind on a purchase, but not okay for a seller to change his mind, remains a mystery.

Robert T

Certainly there are some companies and wealthy folks who run their airplanes on a -135, and account for most to all of the operating hours. And they spare no expense...or basically ask no questions about all the bills.

Then the other end of the spectrum are the outfits actually trying to be profitable.

different worlds for sure, yet both under the same regs.

I don't think either one is proper.

If a seller decides to sell their airplane and advertises that, then it is rude and wasteful for protestive buyer's time to withdraw that after their investment.

Likewise, if a buyer agrees to buy an airplane and then backs out, it is rude and wasteful for the seller's time invested with that buyer.

If you decide to sell, then sell, if you decide to buy, then buy. Otherwise, don't waste people's time.

Mike C.

The rattiest turbine airplanes I have ever flown have been on a 135. The nicest one (so far) is 91 and has never been 135.

I know of 3 Gulfstreams that are “spare no expense” airplanes. They’re only on charter for liability protection. They don’t quote trips other than a few here and there for known entities. They’re too busy and too picky.

Ok, I have to ask, what is “Black Death”? It certainly doesn’t sound good.

Ok, I have to ask, what is “Black Death”? It certainly doesn’t sound good.