Looking for well equipped 231 / 252 to lease or buy

[KevinR]

Nothing beats a Mooney when it comes to efficient small business travel. 

 

I took over a small manufacturing company last summer. We have customers in 38 states. Last week I flew from Orlando to Columbus Ohio & I averaged 107kts door to door... even though I booked a non-stop flight on a 737. Classic story: each airport was over an hour's drive from home / actual destination, waiting on bags, and our dear friends at TSA plus a 90 minute maintenance delay. It's time to get an airplane.

 

I've owned a 201, managed a flight department & flew professionally before changing careers.  My board of directors on the other hand has no experience with GA. They would prefer a 6 month lease with an option to buy so they can get comfortable with the idea of owning a company aircraft. I am looking for a well-equipped 231 or 252. My MEL is a WAAS GPS and a reliable autopilot. Long range tanks is a plus. Anticipating 100 hours in 6 months. 95% probability of buying it at the end of the lease; just have to prove the utility of the aircraft.  

 

If anyone has experience with this kind of an arrangement, I'd like to hear your suggestions / advice. 

[carusoam]

Consider...

Renting the old fashioned way... By the hour. Because that's what's available.

Try a couple of trips... Over a few days.

Collect experience in different times of the year.

Then expand the real life experience as if it were a business case.

Expect winter icing and thunderstorms to put a dent in your business travel and business case. Have a plan B in mind. And be able to explain the short coming.

How well using your plane, with your skills, in your environment, will only be known by you.

I think it is a great idea. I bought my C to use personally, and to visit customers on occasion.

Worked well for both.

A valid board of directors is going to require data put into a short presentation. Compare the costs of using a private plane, car, and commercial travel. Define the benefits. Define the costs.

If they allow for an expensive company car, then a well used Mooney can fit in the plan equally well.

If the plane is used to deliver parts, people and presentations, it's a great tool. If it is used as an excuse for the president to have a plane... Then advice from a community post board probably won't help.

Best regards,

-a-

[carusoam]

Something else to consider...

If you were to decide to buy a plane based on logic. Then something changed and you have to sell it...

It is straight forward to ask this question to a dealer such as All American or Premier.

How much does it cost to buy? $100K?

I use it for Six months and 200 hours, how much could I expect to sell it for?

$5k of wear and tear may have been used?

$5k broker fee?

What is the worst case, fire sale, my baby must go price $50k?

Focus on the nicer example of nicer models to make this possible...

Is the BOD used to buying machinery for the business?

Do they have an ROI target?

Do they use standard accounting practices?

How does that sound?

Best regards,

-a-

[KSMooniac]

You might want to get in touch here...

http://mooneyspace.com/topic/11690-good-newsbad-news/

[KevinR]

Thanks for the comments.  After another week of sales meetings (75% travel time, 25% customer facing), it's definitely time for the Mooney.  Just have to be home long enough to put a deal together!

[carusoam]

Kevin,

What are you selling?

Best regards,

-a-

[Geoff]

Please consider my aircraft for purchase....

 

http://www.controller.com/listingsdetail/aircraft-for-sale/MOONEY-M20K-231/1982-MOONEY-M20K-231/1276417.htm