Importing a used glider from Europe?

On Tuesday, November 20, 2012 10:49:54 AM UTC-7, Terry Pitts wrote:
All,



I've been looking at the adds at Wings and Wheels for the last year. I've often looked at ads here in Europe and thought, "Why can't I find this XYZ be in the US?" The sudden "ah ha!" moment came yesterday as I was looking at ads on Tim's website and saw a glider with German registration.



I've looked at the FAA's website. From a registration perspective it doesn't look awful, but what are the issues/implications associated with bringing a glider from Europe to the US? I realize I have to find a way to ship it. Instruments need to be converted to knots, feet, etc.



The basic target would be an older club class glider (LS1, DG100, Cirrus, etc.) in the low to mid teens range. That seems do able in Germany. Then add shipping. Etc.



It's hard to tell without taking some notes and doing some math, but it looks like comparable gliders are cheaper in Europe than in the US. Is that a supply and demand thing - lots more gliders here than in the US? If prices are higher in the US for a comparable aircraft, maybe I could fly one for a few years and break even?



I know Winter and other companies make instruments for the metric and US markets. Is it easy to get the faces changed? Worth doing some sort of maintenance at the same time?



Is it worth the effort?



Lots of questions, I know. If you have experience or advice on this topic, please share.



Thanks.



Terry

Export C of A and clearance from the foreign registry. The glider mentioned by another poster flew on an experimental airworthiness until cleared by an LBA compliance letter. Still a hassle. Last time I looked, it still had metric instruments on board, but that's been a while.

Complete logbooks, especially if TC'd. Euro sellers are very will to provide copies of all repairs, AD's and SB's, and current W&B.

Reserve an N number in advance.

Trailers can be a hassle. New models need DOT compliance tag. Over a certain age this doesn't apply. An import broker may be helpful here. Private sale documents are not complex. Commercial sale documents are more extensive.

http://www.segelflug.de/cgi-bin/clas...lassifieds.cgi is one place to shop Europe. You might also check out www.gliderpilot.net

There is no import duty on gliders into the US.

Had a few shipping quotes last year. It was far cheaper to ship a container all the way to Denver from several European ports than to ship to a US port and recover by road. IIRC, you are headed to Georgia, so ports are closer. You may do okay with container or RO-RO. Professional packing services may be required as a condition of insurance. Talk with actual shipping agents, not those that you find on Google. Could be a European agent will get you a better deal. VW Transportion in Wolfsburg used to be good for glider trailer transport, but I think they've been taken over recently and their quote was higher than anticipated. I used Wallenius Wilhelmsen www.2wglobal.com several years ago. I see they call in at Brunswick, GA, from Europe..

Frank Whiteley