Find a willing attorney, put the money into his escrow with both buyer and
seller giving him instructions as to what will happen to the money at what
point in the title clearup and what will happen if the title doesn't clear
in some reasonable (a month or two) time.

More problematic is what to do with the "working" you want to do in the
meantime if the title doesn't clear. You say the improvements are worth a
thousand dollars. The current "owner" says the improvements have damaged
the aircraft in the amount of two thousand dollars. Now the fight begins.

I'd suggest that the two of you draft language as to what "working on it"
means and let the attorney draft it into legalese that keeps both of your
butts out of a sling.

Jim



"Michael Horowitz" wrote in message
...

I located a plane I'd like to buy; unfortunately somewhere along the
way the FAA didn't get some paperwork and the current owner didn't get
clear title.
Is there anything I can do to 'buy' the a/c and start working on it,
or do I have to sit on my hands? - Mike