Importing from South Africa

[Controller92]

Has anybody ever imported a plane from South Africa? There’s a screaming deal on a 231 in Johannesburg on Controller.com that just looks tempting but I don’t even know enough to ask smart questions. 

[StevenL757]

Caveat Emptor.

And...by the time you're done paying to get this aircraft over to the US, you're likely spending as much as you would be after you negotiate an offer on this example below...

https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/211641513/1980-mooney-m20k-231-piston-single-aircraft

Just a thought, and it's only up in Canada.  May want to reach out to Clarence @M20Doc and see if he knows anything about this plane, and/or if it would be a viable option.

Steve

[Will.iam]

That airplane in africa was for sale even back in 2019 when i was looking for my airplane. I doubt it’s been flown since then but there must be a reason why it hasn’t sold for 3 plus years. 

[carusoam]

4 hours ago, Controller92 said:

Has anybody ever imported a plane from South Africa? There’s a screaming deal on a 231 in Johannesburg on Controller.com that just looks tempting but I don’t even know enough to ask smart questions. 

MS has a few members in SA…

If you search for them… you might get a good qualified answer….

 

Then tell us how you define a screaming deal… 

There is a great thread around here about flying the southern route across the Atlantic, including pics… makes a great read.
 

Good luck with the hunt!

-a-

[Will.iam]

Yea looked up the ad still the same pictures with blanked out where callsign would be. Notice gearup in 93 but logbooks only back to 96. That is why it looks like a good price you have no documentation on how the gearup was completed and by whom. 
no way would i attempt an oceanic crossing on a zero time engine either. 

[LANCECASPER]

5 hours ago, Controller92 said:

Has anybody ever imported a plane from South Africa? There’s a screaming deal on a 231 in Johannesburg on Controller.com that just looks tempting but I don’t even know enough to ask smart questions. 

I believe @Ulysse imported one from South Africa to Italy a couple of years ago

[Guest]

6 hours ago, StevenL757 said:

Caveat Emptor.

And...by the time you're done paying to get this aircraft over to the US, you're likely spending as much as you would be after you negotiate an offer on this example below...

https://www.controller.com/listing/for-sale/211641513/1980-mooney-m20k-231-piston-single-aircraft

Just a thought, and it's only up in Canada.  May want to reach out to Clarence @M20Doc and see if he knows anything about this plane, and/or if it would be a viable option.

Steve

I don’t know this plane, it on the other end of the country.  But I do agree that buying one closer to home makes more sense.  I know a guy who ferries planes across the Atlantic @10,000 Euros one way.  I’d hate to think what it would cost to bring one from South Africa.

Clarence

[StevenL757]

32 minutes ago, M20Doc said:

I don’t know this plane, it on the other end of the country.  But I do agree that buying one closer to home makes more sense.  I know a guy who ferries planes across the Atlantic @10,000 Euros one way.  I’d hate to think what it would cost to bring one from South Africa.

Clarence

Wow.  That's insane.

[Ulysse]

On top of the cost of ferry which could indeed be 20k or more, you have to consider the cost and surprises when registering the plane on the N registry. In my case I discovered that the nice 3 blade propeller which was fitted did not have a proper STC and I had flown an airplane all the way from South-Africa to Europe in an unairworthy airplane. This added another 18k for a new 3 blade MT propeller plus the cost of the DAR visit! 

So, it is probably cheaper to buy in the USA even at a higher purchase price.