Marco Rispoli wrote:

How do I go about getting it inspected? Do I call a local (to the plane)
mechanic and arrange a meeting between him, the seller and the plane? Do I
need to be there?

What I would do is to make a post in the aviation owning and piloting groups asking
for references to a mechanic in that area. Then call that mechanic and the seller and
arrange a meeting. You should not need to be there. Another possibility is to locate
a broker in the area and hire him as an agent.

There's many steps to buying a plane. Title search, loan financing,
insurance, inspection and transfer of ownership.

AOPA will provide some of these for a fee.

If anybody ever purchased a plane from
far away, how did you handle it?

I bought my 150 from a broker. I didn't get a title search. I financed the loan
through my credit union as a "signature loan". I went with AVEMCO for the first year
of insurance. I let the broker arrange the inspection. The transfer of ownership was
made when I went to pick up the plane, and I carried a certified check for payment.
If I had been buying from a private owner, I would have a title search performed and
arrange my own inspection.

I went to see the plane three times. Once to do my own inspection and see if I was
interested, once to fly the aircraft after the annual/preflight inspection, and once
for the ferry flight home. Most people would only need two visits.

Be aware that a 6% usage tax applies in New Jersey if you buy from a broker.

George Patterson
This marriage is off to a shaky start. The groom just asked the band to
play "Your cheatin' heart", and the bride just requested "Don't come home
a'drinkin' with lovin' on your mind".