How to buy an aircraft?
Ok, sounds a silly question but I've never done it before and have a number of questions. I want to buy a used aircraft, so what is the best way to go about finding, and buying the aircraft I want?
Do I simply start trawling the classified ads for the aircraft I want, or look on some of the “aircraft for sale” websites, eg Controller, ASO, AVbuyer, aircraftdealer etc. or should I contact a dealer or trader for the type that I want? With the latter route, am I likely to get any sort of warranty for parts etc.?
Once I’ve found the aircraft I want, is there a standard set of enquiries to make ie like buying a house and is this done through solicitors like a house or just by email (like a car) and should I take a qualified engineer along (how much is that likely to cost?) to look at it for “obvious” defects common with that type? Then what, take it for a flight? What am I looking for, as an hour or “test” flight isn’t going to tell me anything much – or is it? Test the nav and coms, then what? What minimum paperwork should there be for the aircraft and avionics?
If I buy abroad, am I then looking at a fortune to have all my instruments certified for use in the UK? For a first purchase, would the advice be to avoid buying abroad unless it was done by a dealer who could do all the mod’s for the coms / nav?
When it comes to transfer of cash, again, is that done through a solicitor like it is with a house, or would a bank transfer suffice, like a car?
Basic questions I know but some pointers would be helpful, thanks.