Never Had a Mooney

[FlyingVAce]

Just wondering how the logistics of having a PIP done if there’s a place you prefer and plane is in a different. Plane in NC but wanted Maxwell to inspect?

[gsxrpilot]

Mike Elliott just brought a Bravo from Tampa to Austin so JD could do the pre-buy. 

It's typically just a matter of being far enough into the sales cycle that the only thing left between you and a successful sale is the pre-buy. Put down a deposit sizable enough protect the seller. Arrange for a pilot and cover all the costs of moving the plane to the pre-buy.

As a seller, I'd not have a problem with my plane going anywhere at the buyers expense, for a pre-buy. BUT... I would want to have a signed purchase contract, and a deposit sufficient to cover any expenses I might incur if the sale falls through and also sufficient enough to show the seriousness of the buyer to follow through on the sale.

[jaylw314]

1 hour ago, gsxrpilot said:

Mike Elliott just brought a Bravo from Tampa to Austin so JD could do the pre-buy. 

It's typically just a matter of being far enough into the sales cycle that the only thing left between you and a successful sale is the pre-buy. Put down a deposit sizable enough protect the seller. Arrange for a pilot and cover all the costs of moving the plane to the pre-buy.

As a seller, I'd not have a problem with my plane going anywhere at the buyers expense, for a pre-buy. BUT... I would want to have a signed purchase contract, and a deposit sufficient to cover any expenses I might incur if the sale falls through and also sufficient enough to show the seriousness of the buyer to follow through on the sale.

There's also the question of whether the owner feels comfortable flying the aircraft that kind of distance and has the time.  Never hurts to ask, but I'd imagine most sellers would probably want to limit it to within a few hundred miles.

[carusoam]

11 hours ago, FlyingVAce said:

Just wondering how the logistics of having a PIP done if there’s a place you prefer and plane is in a different. Plane in NC but wanted Maxwell to inspect?

 

You can determine this answer for yourself using logic...

generally... The further away the plane is, the more expensive the acquisition costs become...

If you don’t mind spending 5amu on ‘insurance’, expecting to get nothing back... You are good to go...

This ‘insurance’ includes...

• You need to see the plane in person to judge if going through this effort for this plane is going to be worth it.
• paying somebody to fly the plane to and from both locations... (remember, some sellers won’t agree to this)
• pro-pilots and the related insurance, (you can get a quote for that...)
• the cost of fuel being burned @10 - 20 gallons per hour...
• (TT) Transition Training and delivery to the new home...
• PPI that turns into a full annual...

You may Find,  very quickly...

1) If the plane cost as much as your house and the only one for sale is 1knm away... it makes sense to spend this much...

2) If the plane costs as much as your car, and there are two for sale in your home state... it may make less sense to spend this much...

3) Self Check: How comfortable are you putting your keys in somebody else’s hands, knowing they are going to take your car 1000 miles...?

4) DMax May be considered the best.  But, there are quite a few that are pretty good at finding AW issues in Mooneys around the country.... and Canada, and Europe...

 

Hopefully, that adds some perspective on the costs...

 

There are two possible outcomes...

1) the plane is exactly what you thought it was, it passes the PPI, you go away happy, your 5amu was well spent...

2) the plane has a surprise major AW issue that even the owner was not aware of, it fails the PPI, you not only walk away, you run, your 5amu just saved you a bundle!

 

One of the biggest challenges with this plan is getting the owner to go along with all of the complexity...

How do you help a person to be comfortable having his 70amu plane, out of his control, far from home....?

 

PP thoughts only, it’s nearly a decade since I bought a plane... it will be a great memory..

Best regards,

-a-