Well, I have another opportunity. A 1979 A152 Aerobat with long range tanks is now available. It has 2400tt and 51 SMOH with engine overhauled and magnafluxed. New paint and seats in 2004, but interior plastic still needs replacing. Trouble is, it is only listed on ebay and it is in Florida. I will be talking with an aircraft sales agent who could act quickly on my behalf, but How can I deal with this ebay bidding (no matter what I bid, someone will always offer more). Any advice?
There are at least 2 issues:
1) How to cope with a greatly compressed time frame
2) How to win the auction
Being a stickler for details as you are, I am surprised
this airplane was even showed up on your radar.
Airplane buying usually involves a lot of due diligence that
doesn't lend itself to a 10 day auction.
Some sort of leap of faith might be required.
The missing logs are always a red flag.
The other big question is "Why?".
As in-- why do all of this work and spend all of this dough only to sell it.
Some of the terminology in the ad is a bit odd-- "ILS indicator"
5 GPH? My 150 averaged 6 over 400 hours.
5 GPH x 8 hours would leave you with minus 1 gallon if
you started with 39.
All engines burn some oil.
Maybe I'm pickin' nits.
Here's the ad:
eBay Aerobat [
cgi.ebay.com]
Winning eBay auctions is relatively easy. Go "all in" at the last possible moment. The complication here is that this fellow has set a reserve that is more than $25,300.
It's conceivable that you will win the auction and still not get the plane.
Several guys are already caught up in a bidding war.
Danger Wil Robinson! Don't pay too much.
