What’s the best way to sell a small airplane?

Anonymous

Unless you accept a low offer or sell low at auction, you must expect loads of questions. You’re trying to sell an item which will likely kill the owner if there are hidden problems, and yours is nearly half a century old. That means there’s a huge range of possible prices: a regularly-started, perfectly-maintained example with comprehensive maintenance history and logs for the airframe and engine but with relatively few flying hours will sell for most. One which is identical but which has been regularly flown is likely to be quite close to the airframe hours limit so will still attract a good price but probably as a parts donor unless anyone wishes to commit to completely dismantling it, testing for and repairing fatigue cracks, and then getting it recertified. Almost anything else will sell as salvage if there are no log books or if the logs are incomplete and missing supportive documentary evidence. Or you can contact an aeroplane brokerage and let them sell it on commission.

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I parked my 1956 Cessna 180 at the airport where it's been serviced for the past 40+ years and put a '''FOR SALE''' sign on it and left the log books at the maintenance office. My plane sat for a month before an American pilot saw it, flew it, looked over the log books and bought it. I paid the maintenance supervisor 5 percent for handling the sale. I never posted any ads.

Observer

The value depends on many things. Probably most important is the maintence records. Have all of the AD's up to date. Is it out of license, what is the total time on the airframe and engine. No one is going to even make a serious offer until all questions have been satisfactorily answered. Just not having the maintenance records could seriously impact the price.

bo

is there a aircraft mechanic at the airport. he might know of a site or someone in the business willing to sell the plane for you for a fee

George

Trade-a-plane has always worked for me

Zaphod Beeblebrox

Trade-A-Plane and Barnstormers are definitely your best venues. You'll do best with good photos, accurate logbook info and a fresh annual.

CB

Put for sale ads on the bulletin boards of local airports in your area. Include a page of information (from the billion questions you have gotten) about the plane to keep the calls to a minimum. People physically at smaller municipal airports are likely to be more serious and know other pilots who may be looking for a plane.

Joe

Wait until they replay the movie "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines." People won't be able to resist buying an airplane after seeing that movie.

tacloh

The day before the propellor falls off.

Fred

Fly it in an airshow. Everyone loves airshows!