So you did do a pre-buy with an AP in Texas or you left it to the pictures and conversation with the seller?
Larry, I did a search of the area near Austin, Texas. Located a flight school that had A&E's on staff. I called them, got some names as references, called them and based of the comments from them, I had the owner fly the plane to their location. I emailed the A&E a list of items I wanted him to check. It went very well. Included in the inspection was a list of AD's that I wanted him to confirm. The owner photo copied each and every page of all his log books and mailed the copies out to me. I went through the log books, confirming the things I wanted to see, like maintenance history, damage history and AD's completed. The other thing I did was to send all the engine logs, including the last overhaul info to the MOT's aviation inspection branch. They confirmed the overhaul would meet their standards. I then contacted the owner,, indicated it was a go. We then had the export inspection done. With all indications being good, I booked a flight for myself and my daugther, "Yep, now truth be told, she was 16 and had just obtained her pilots license", and off we went. The complete process took about 4 weeks, and in the last week, before I arrived, the previous owner de-registered the "N number" and affixed the new Canadian temporary registration. When we arrived,, we took the 150 for a flight,, landed, paid him the balance,, and then we took off heading West,, for a great trip back.
So,, in essence, all the work went on behind the scenes, and the "actual sale", took about 15 minutes,, "not including the lady instructor the seller had retained so my daughter could go flying as well". "She went up with me as well, and we did touch and go's at 3 other airports".
It was all a wonderful experience, and if ever I purchase another,, I wouldn't be discouraged by distances and obstacles. Just be aware up front of the costs involved,, "I'd done my home work".
Well, the one thing that might discourage me, would be purchasing one from Europe,, Then again,, theses planes do fly and have been known to fly from North America to Europe, so with home work done, I think I would fly one back here. Now, that would be an experience and a half. Something like this would have to be done through a "temporary certificate of registration, and a flight permit", with these in hand, it's surprising what can be done. The only limitation is, you're bound by dates, and as well, departure point and final destination point. On arrival to destination point, the flight permit is canceled, and the temp certificate of registration is voided, pending import inspection. Taxes, and import inspections, "certifying it meets the original standards" and if it doesn't, making it so, is where the real $$$ come into play.
Here in Canada, under a "flight permit" you could fly an airplane that doesn't have a current certificate of registration or a current C of A. Under the flight permit, "and this just me talking about what I would do if I wanted to bring one over from Europe", I'd modify it to suit my needs, I don't think it would have to follow current applicable standards under the "flight permit", but once I arrive to my destination, it would have to meet the applicable standards by removing what I'd had modified.
This should get an uproar going,, what I'm saying is, under the umbrella of the "flight permit", I could make, or have made for me, any parts or things modified to the airplane that wouldn't meet the current "TSO" standards, install these things myself, "I'm not a mechanic", and fly it legally under the flight "flight permit" to my destination airport. Anyone ever seen a 150 with a fuel belly pod? The only thing,, is whatever is done, should be done safely,, and would have to be removed "unless it was something approved" to meet the import inspection.
