Bad Airplane Buying Experience Last Night

But would you buy someones airplane with logs that have been modified or
things removed?


"Matthew P. Cummings" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 29 Feb 2004 08:58:23 +0000, S Green wrote:

If I was a buyer then I would be interested in Matt's plane. Anyone who

That's the other benefit if I ever decided to sell it, most sellers want
to see the logs and I have it in a form that most could read. I could
email them the logs and they could see them that day, add digital photo's
with it and they have a fairly complete package quickly, and for me little
expense because the logs don't have to be copied page by page for who
knows how many people. For those without a computer I could print it,
again it wouldn't take as long as copying and would save me money, so
there's another large benefit of scanning your logs.

"MRQB" wrote in message
...
But would you buy someones airplane with logs that have been modified or
things removed?

It like buying antiques or works of art. Buying planes is all about
establishing provenance. If there are gaps in the records one needs to ask
why. If the books have been altered again one needs to ask why.

In buying a plane one needs to think the worst. Why are they getting rid of
it? If its is such a good plane why sell? How long have they had it?

Take nothing at face value and go through the logs with a fine tooth comb,
and take your own A& P.

Unfortunately aviation is one area where I have to reverse my principles.
Normally, I trust someone unless or until I have reason not to. In buying
planes, its the other way.

The saddest thing is finding something which even the seller did not know
and which trashes his aircraft and his dream. They sometimes take it out on
you when if they had been more thorough they would have bought something
else.

My only reservation with Matthew sending stuff over the internet is that
some dirtbag could copy his work and create false records for another
airplane.

sg

Well the seller should not be rude when you ask the basic questions that is
if he wants to sell the airplane. Myself I am not going to pay an A & P
until I know that I want the airplane and I am ready for the pre buy
inspection. I have learned a lot by asking questions and talking with A &
P's to go look if I like what I see and ever thing looks ok, I will have an
A & P go look ever thing over everything at the pre buy. A seller should not
attack you when you tell them that your not going to buy. I wonder what he
would have done if I asked him to move it out of his shop in his back yard
of his mobile home over to my A & P's hanger for a pre buy inspection
probably would have shot me.



"S Green" wrote in message
...

"MRQB" wrote in message
...
But would you buy someones airplane with logs that have been modified or
things removed?

It like buying antiques or works of art. Buying planes is all about
establishing provenance. If there are gaps in the records one needs to
ask
why. If the books have been altered again one needs to ask why.

In buying a plane one needs to think the worst. Why are they getting rid
of
it? If its is such a good plane why sell? How long have they had it?

Take nothing at face value and go through the logs with a fine tooth comb,
and take your own A& P.

Unfortunately aviation is one area where I have to reverse my principles.
Normally, I trust someone unless or until I have reason not to. In buying
planes, its the other way.

The saddest thing is finding something which even the seller did not know
and which trashes his aircraft and his dream. They sometimes take it out
on
you when if they had been more thorough they would have bought something
else.

My only reservation with Matthew sending stuff over the internet is that
some dirtbag could copy his work and create false records for another
airplane.

sg

By some estimates the logs are worth up to 20% of the airplane's value.
Some sort of care of these documents is in order.


"CriticalMass" wrote in message
...
Matthew P. Cummings wrote:

I scan my logs, so if I add oil I'll scan
the log and add it to the electronic pdf version I keep. If my logs are
so unlucky as to be lost, I have them all, yellow tags, logs, stc's, W&B,
etc all in my pdf file.


Probably just me, but that's obsessive-compulsive, IMO.

By some estimates the logs are worth up to 20% of the airplane's value.
Some sort of care of these documents is in order.

Sounds about right. My A&P told me that my logs were worth $15 - $20K.

They are therefore locked in a fire-proof safe, well away from the plane and
airport. And when they are in his office (during an annual inspection, for
instance), I am very paranoid until I get them back.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

I think it's just you. I do this as well---it's a heck of a lot easier,
cheaper, and more accessible than making photocopies.

CriticalMass wrote:

Matthew P. Cummings wrote:

I scan my logs, so if I add oil I'll scan
the log and add it to the electronic pdf version I keep. If my logs are
so unlucky as to be lost, I have them all, yellow tags, logs, stc's, W&B,
etc all in my pdf file.


Probably just me, but that's obsessive-compulsive, IMO.

Jay Honeck wrote:

They are therefore locked in a fire-proof safe, well away from the plane and
airport. And when they are in his office (during an annual inspection, for
instance), I am very paranoid until I get them back.

I bring my logs in after the inspection is completed and I stay with them until
they are signed. If the IA can't do that right then, I'll bring them back, but
I don't leave them there.

George Patterson
A diplomat is a person who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that
you look forward to the trip.