You should ALWAYS have the prepurchase inspection performed by
the mechanic/shop who will be doing your ongoing maintenance
and annuals. A&Ps have wide lattitude in deciding what is
"airworthy," and having the aircraft inspected by your own
mechanic will reduce the chance of expensive suprises the first
time your local shop opens the cowling. You HAVE researched
and selected a maintenance shop, right?

Expect to pay to have the aircraft ferried to your location, and
ferried back if you decline to purchase, or buy the ferry pilot
an airline ticket home if you accept. Yes, this will cost $$$,
but no one ever said aircraft ownership was cheap. It will be
money well spent.

If the owner is unwilling to send the aircraft to you, this could
be a tip-off that the aircraft is not up to the trip, or has
"issues" that he doesn't want an independent third party to see.
The aircraft may not be a good buy.

Also read this week's "Pilot's Lounge" column on AvWeb:
"Fresh Annual" and Other Hooks for Suckers
http://www.avweb.com/news/columns/186740-1.html


Happy shopping,
Ross Oliver