Let's Help Sky Hog Get a $30,000 plane( From Barron)
Okay, now we're making his site useful ( vs. all the entertainment value aside)
Let's Do a "virtual" reality show here featuring Sky Hog and the PROPER steps to take to get a good airplane!
1. Sky Hog has decided on a prudent airplane for his mission and location ( note: I dod not want to get into the debate of which airplane is best, that has the same number of opinions as there are members on this site)
2. You can buy my Aero Commander 680E for the price SkyHog wants to spend, but that would be a BAD idea. Operating and maintenance costs make the purchase price look cheap, so it's an example of buying the airplane for the mission, not buying the airplane for price.
3. Sky Hog has settled on a $30,000 Cherokee 180.
4. Next step, and most important, especially these days, is: Do yo hve the money "ready"? I'm not being personal, but rather practical. Its not fun to find a gret plane, at a great price, and THEN figure out how to get the money. If its a good one, while you're trying to figure out the money, somebody else is writing a check ( trust me, a source of real frustration for buyers and often leads to nasty postings)
5. Financing is super-difficult, especially on anything under $100K. Try your lcoal Bank or credit union or someone you know to act as a private lender, but get the money lined up FIRST.
6. Okay, let's assume you've got that covered. The next most critical step on your checklist and adventures-in-plane-buying is PATIENCE and REALITY.
7. What do I mean by that? I mean, that while you've got $30K burning a hole in your pocket, patience is a virtue. No rushing just because its cheap or has a good paint job.
8. Next, the word REALITY sets in. Don't think, as many do ( and some reading this message board that you alone are the only one in the universe with $30K to spend and therefore, you can drive a TOUGH DEAL. This is probaby the biggest mistake buyers make right now in this economy - they try and drive TOO HARD a bargain and miss the deal entirely ( ..oops, and more nasty postings).
The reality is that there are many buyers in this price range, and while the airplane market is in the tank, there are still buyers, so be READY and ACT when the RIGHT airplane comes along.
9. The next step, before any shping or reading of the papers and websites, is line up a mechanic that can ispect the airplane for you and that is REALISTIC. Remember, the airplane you're looking at is 40+ years old, so its not perfect, but you want it to be SAFE.
A good mechanic should look at an airplane and break it down into 3 categories:
a. Things that MUST be done RIGHT NOWbefore any further flight
b. Things that will come up on the next few annuals and you need to budget for
c. Things you can do if you win the lottery
That's a pragmatic approach to a 40 year old airplane.
10. Next, hae this mechanic lined up to look at whatever you bring in, or, if he can, travel to where the airplane is. If he can't travel, then he should be able to know someone at the local airport that can be his eyes by remote contol, i.e. inspect the airplane per your mechanic's instructions and report the findings to him via telephone.
A Cherokee 180 is fairly simple, if you hve some mechanical apptitude, YOU can follow your mechanic's instuctions if the airplane is not on your field.
NOW your are ready to SHOP ( and hopefully buy)
Check the lcoal bulletin boards, read the appers, check Barnstormers and Find Aircraft.com etc. These are the newest websites and tend to get the best deals first.
11. Sort out the airplanes that are too far away, or too over-priced, or runnout, or have other maladies. In any category, from Gulfstreams to 150's, about 80% of the group can be ruled out for either bad features or over-priced. that narrows your search considerably to a more manageable search.
Then, which one looks like the best value and the closest? Go see it!
I recommend looking at 3 airplanes before yo buy one, unless you are sure of what you're doing. By looking at several, the slight nuances of eah one will start to become apparent and then you'll "know" which one is the best for you.
Ok.
that's enough for today.
Anybody else can weigh-in. Remember, in viatin, if there's 100 people i the room, there's 100 opinions.
If you want to discuss further, let me know here or private email. I think this is a good start and these steps apply to ANY airplane buying process.
Good luck, hope this helps in some way
Barron
