Strong dollar, anyone looking to import?

[Jack Ranga]

HH,

Believe it or not $1:20 is what some economists are forecasting (although they are the new snakeoil salesmen these days)

As far as the US market is going, until they learn the lessons they should have learnt years ago their economy will continue to be a basket case. If you thought their last slowdown was savage just wait for this one, it hasn't started yet and will be far worse, plenty of bargains to come yet, happy days

[Niceguysa45]

Any advice on a aerobatic aircraft for about the. 100k mark, something that is capable of most aerobatic moves

[Niceguysa45]

The RV-4 did sound appealing, two seats is the only requirement

[aussiefan]

All Aeroplanes and parts are duty free. If you buy second hand you will more than likely need a Quarantine inspection done. If you have Aircon then the gas needs to be the right type or more expense with Dpt of envionment.

20' container around 2-3000 and 40' around 4000. Add more for fees etc, about another $2-4000 depending on where in the country you are and who you use.

[Rich-Fine-Green]

With the falling USD$ the shipping rates (quoted in USD$) are rising.......
Was just quoted USD$9700 for 40' from Florida to Sydney door-to-door.

[Jabawocky]

RFG

And the door to door quote will not include a few extra costs you will get hit with.

I just looked up my costs for a 20' container in 2008 and they totalled around $10.5k so as pointed out, the rates are rising no doubt in line with the currency, so again.... be careful!

[-438]

How does paying for a ferry as opposed with shipping one over (cessna single) compare, and what are the costs to put on Aussie register??

[Jabawocky]

Box it...........and get another in a 40'er if you can.

[tail wheel]

All Aeroplanes and parts are duty free.

But not exempt from 10% GST!

[Frank Arouet]

And that is why the Australian dollar must hit $1.10 minimum before we are anywhere near a level playing field. My last import, in a 20' container ex Seattle, cost me apx $10,000 inclusive of ALL costs. The contents cost me $20,000. (all AUD). Used aircraft attract a mandatory quarantine inspection which can get expensive and time consuming.

[trolleydriver]

Whats involved in importing a homebuilt from the states? I'm one of those that would love a small aerobatic homebuilt but prefer to fly rather than build.

How hard are they to get on the VH register?

[PA39]

HINT: Don't overlook Europe/GB/SA.....A$ v Euro is pretty good.

[captwawa]

Aircraft for Sale - Used Aircraft Sales at GlobalPlaneSearch.com
is a handy site for looking for a/c it links all the sellers into one site.

[thunderbird five]

Trolley - no problem to VH, many have done it.

Fumigated and Packed 20ft container close to US$5000 from near New Orleans recently, would be a lot less from L.A. - possibly $3000+ and just 21 days sailing. Ground transport in US to LA can be high.
GST and customs on arrival. No duty.
A$1800 odd for port fees, local freight, brokerage, AQIS. etc
Insurance about 1% plus broker fee $50.
Free to pick it all up, pay to have it all delivered.
Biggest drama is getting container packed properly, not by nitwits.

No more "Honest Ron" sadly - he punched out a while back.

[VH-XXX]

Whats involved in importing a homebuilt from the states? I'm one of those that would love a small aerobatic homebuilt but prefer to fly rather than build.

How hard are they to get on the VH register?

You'll need to have it inspected and put into GA experimental and you'll be up for a LAME to maintain it from there-on. If it's well built and you know a good reliable LAME you're in luck.

I know of someone though who recently brought in a Pitts from the US based on emailed photos and no personal inspection. He has spent more than the purchase price again on repairs. He couldn't have got it registered otherwise as nobody would have signed it off.


Duty is the least of your worries as Tail Wheel says, it's the GST that kills plus the other crap.

I almost purchased a boat from the BVI's recently and I imagine purchsing an aircraft also has similar hidden costs. Purchase price + GST 10% + Duty 5%, customs broker $900, refrigerant import licence $500, registration $800'ish, termite inspection up to $900. I would have also had to pay GST and duty on the cost of getting it here from the last port, so fuel & provisions from Noumea - 10% of that. Not a huge cost but more of a money grab.

[Arnold E]

Whats involved in importing a homebuilt from the states? I'm one of those that would love a small aerobatic homebuilt but prefer to fly rather than build.

Why not look for one here in Oz??

[trolleydriver]

Thanks for the info.

Why not look for one here in Oz??

Greater choice, and with the dollar up over 1.03 and rising!
Now would seem like a good time to look into it.

[Jack Ranga]

Trolley, you would have to be mad to buy a built home built out of the states. I've heard first hand from a bloke that has done some inspections for people who've done so and it's cost megabucks to rectify.

If you did want to, send someone over that knows to inspect first.

[Clearedtoreenter]

If you thought their last slowdown was savage just wait for this one, it hasn't started yet and will be far worse, plenty of bargains to come yet, happy days

Might or might not be true but the manufacturers are cutting back production big time and some of the good, later stuff, post G1000 etc, is getting hard to find and firming in price, if only because operators are not turning it over as they were. Shipping costs are definitely on the up. Most door to door quotes are only estimates because they really don't know what a container will cost to process and cart until it gets here. They can even change the port on you and leave you with the cartage bill and come up with all sorts of other surprises. The fun you can end up having with AQIS can end up costing an arm and a couple of legs, depending who you get on the day. Its still quite difficult to end up with a plane you can sell here for more than it cost. The market here as a result of all of this importing is almost non-existent and very depressed of course and so quite a bit of downward price pressure here, although you might not know it to see some of the silly prices being asked. Its well worth having a good look around here and seeing what you can negotiate.

[frangatang]

If anyone wants a machine crated up in a container, l used just the man based in
lakeland , florida. Did a superb job on an rv6 and is well versed in doing it. Cost $2200 when l did it.