By James Trusty

First, let me say, if I talked with you, met with you, showed you my airplane, sent you a descriptive bio, e-mailed pictures, gave you a demo ride, or any combination of these sales aids, I appreciate your taking the time to contact me and hope you find the right airplane to meet your needs.    

The reason for selling my airplane: I simply don’t fly my airplane that much anymore.  Age certainly plays a role, and my work as a Corporate Pilot and being an active FAA Certificated Flight Instructor satisfies my aviation desires and demands a lot of my time.  I flew my 210 a total of 6 hours in 2008, and about 3 so far in 09.

The airplane: A 1960 Cessna 210 with 2286.4 Total Time Airframe and 269.1 since Major Overhaul.  Always hangared.  Spent its entire life in beautiful Tennessee.   A solid 8 in every category.  Paint and Interior in 1995.  Low, low time with no damage history.  Complete logs, fresh annual, and all Airworthiness Directives complied with.

First, let me say, if I talked with you, met with you, showed you my airplane, sent you a descriptive bio, e-mailed pictures, gave you a demo ride, or any combination of these sales aids, I appreciate your taking the time to contact me and hope you find the right airplane to meet your needs.    

The reason for selling my airplane: I simply don’t fly my airplane that much anymore.  Age certainly plays a role, and my work as a Corporate Pilot and being an active FAA Certificated Flight Instructor satisfies my aviation desires and demands a lot of my time.  I flew my 210 a total of 6 hours in 2008, and about 3 so far in 09.

The airplane: A 1960 Cessna 210 with 2286.4 Total Time Airframe and 269.1 since Major Overhaul.  Always hangared.  Spent its entire life in beautiful Tennessee.   A solid 8 in every category.  Paint and Interior in 1995.  Low, low time with no damage history.  Complete logs, fresh annual, and all Airworthiness Directives complied with.

The advertising: Trade-a-Plane had the most information along with pictures and of course reached out to the most prospects.  It was also advertised in some magazines that I write for, such as Plane & Pilot News, Twin Cessna Flyer, Atlantic Flyer, and America’s Flyways.  The ads with pictures ran for at least 3 months in all these publications.

The price: The airplane appraised at $53,900 Average retail and $38,900 Average wholesale.  I went with the lower $38,900 in hopes of a quick sale and to do away with the bargaining. 

Calls, appearances, e-mails, & walk-ins: If I had been giving the airplane away, I would not have generated more interest or traffic.  I have been in personal contact with more than 100 suspects in less than 90 days, possibly more.  Trade-A-Plane reported over 500 hits to just one of my 6 different ads.  Picture collectors perhaps.

Some of the  reasons for not buying: Some of the reasons were: “Bigger airplane than I thought.”  “Need to sell mine first.”  “Lands too fast.”  “Needs an update to the panel.”  “Cannot  possibly fly without a GPS.”  “I was looking for something cheaper.”  “I prefer a Low Wing.”  “Needs a back window.”  “Would you take less?”  “Had any serious offers?”  “Paint it blue and it will sell!”  “Need to get my Complex Signoff/High Performance Signoff first.”  “Can you GIVE that to me? FREE?”  “Do you deliver?”  “Can you ride me around for a couple of hours before I make up my mind?”  “Although I have never flown an airplane this big, I think I could manage it with just a little instruction.”  “Can I use your insurance to get it back to Arizona?  I’m a little short on money.”  “Will you take a check from my bank in Africa?”  “I’m sending my delivery guy by to take a look.  Can you pay him $15,000 delivery charge and I’ll just add it to your check?”

Where they came from: I had them arriving from all over, Hawaii, Texas, California, Oregon, Missouri, Montana, but I swear two of them were from outer space.

Finally, a happy seller meets the new owner: At last some guy calls from Texas and says he would like to send his mechanic by to do a pre-buy.  He is looking for a good complex that he can train in.  He is out of the country for a month, but if I can wait, he will buy it for the asking price.  Sometime later he showed up with a pilot/instructor.  We turned the patch twice, everyone was happy and comfortable, and he bought it and flew off to the west.  I guess that old adage is true that “You only need one buyer; all the rest are just tire kickers.”

I also keep a 1986 Porsche 928 in my hangar and it looked kinda lonesome this morning.  I’ve had that bird for 11 years and enjoyed every minute of it.  It never failed me or left me hanging.  Eventually I’ll buy something else, but I’ll remember 40 Tango forever and the buyer who knew a good deal when he made one.

I hope this article prepares you for some of the problems I encountered.  I don’t know what to blame, the economy, 9/11, the glut of airplanes for sale, scared money, reluctant buyers, fear of commitment, or some combination of any of these.  Thanks to all those who made legitimate inquiries, and to those of you with an airplane for sale, don’t give up.  The right person is out there and they will find you eventually.