Glider Purchase Procedure - Annual & Pre Purchase Inspection?

How do sellers feel about letting a possible purchaser fly a glider before they buy it?

Personally I'd not allow it, certainly not with a high performance or complex glider.

I'd be open to refunding money if the buyer asked, provided no damage had been done.

I bought my current glider after my inspection, and looking over the logbooks, but didn't fly it before purchase. But it was a well-known good glider (ventus 2cxM). I did extend and start the engine and check the rpm, mag drops. I've been satisfied.

Yes, cashiers check in hand, then you fly it, comes back in same condition, no worries just but dinner for the rental 😜

Before money or cashier's check changes hands, do make sure you have insurance activated.

Even if the glider remains stationary, floods, tornadoes and hangar collapses can happen.

Yes, cashiers check in hand, then you fly it, comes back in same condition, no worries just but dinner for the rental.

That sounds rare, but ideal, with care in the details.

Seller holds the check with the understanding of a china shop buy it if you break it rule.

Seller's insurance company has signed off on covering the buyer flying the seller's plane. Plane is in annual. Buyer is legal to fly.

Buyer is comfortable that the plane is ok to fly. (I've not yet bought and flown a glider without the luxury of time to go over it and address some safety of flight issues. Still, given the right circumstances...)

Good luck with your search.

A bank transfer is much safer than a cashiers check for the seller so don’t be offended if it is required.
If the refinish is done by the owner or anyone for that matter make sure the control surface have been weighed and mass balanced and those numbers recorded somewhere and are within manufactures specs This is a safety of flight issue and an difficult To impossible to fix.
DLB

On Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 6:55:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Yes, cashiers check in hand, then you fly it, comes back in same condition, no worries just but dinner for the rental.

That sounds rare, but ideal, with care in the details.

Seller holds the check with the understanding of a china shop buy it if you break it rule.

Seller's insurance company has signed off on covering the buyer flying the seller's plane. Plane is in annual. Buyer is legal to fly.

Buyer is comfortable that the plane is ok to fly. (I've not yet bought and flown a glider without the luxury of time to go over it and address some safety of flight issues. Still, given the right circumstances...)

Good luck with your search.

I think the whole idea of a pre-buy flight is a bad idea and I would not agree to it. After all, what is the buyer going to learn from the flight that he/she doesn't already know? If the glider is damaged by the buyer the seller takes a loss REGARDLESS of insurance coverage: the glider is now has to be taken to a repair shop (which may be a 1,000 miles or more away), the glider is off the market for months and the glider's value has dropped because of the damage. Worst case, the buyer kills himself and the estate sues the seller for wrongful death.

Tom

On Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 2:14:16 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
On Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 6:55:19 AM UTC-7, wrote:
Yes, cashiers check in hand, then you fly it, comes back in same condition, no worries just but dinner for the rental.

That sounds rare, but ideal, with care in the details.

Seller holds the check with the understanding of a china shop buy it if you break it rule.

Seller's insurance company has signed off on covering the buyer flying the seller's plane. Plane is in annual. Buyer is legal to fly.

Buyer is comfortable that the plane is ok to fly. (I've not yet bought and flown a glider without the luxury of time to go over it and address some safety of flight issues. Still, given the right circumstances...)

Good luck with your search.

I think the whole idea of a pre-buy flight is a bad idea and I would not agree to it. After all, what is the buyer going to learn from the flight that he/she doesn't already know? If the glider is damaged by the buyer the seller takes a loss REGARDLESS of insurance coverage: the glider is now has to be taken to a repair shop (which may be a 1,000 miles or more away), the glider is off the market for months and the glider's value has dropped because of the damage. Worst case, the buyer kills himself and the estate sues the seller for wrongful death.

Tom

I am with Tom on this. The only way I would allow flying would be if someone had time in the exact glider; make and model, and transferred the money before flight. Any damage during a test flight, and the glider would automatically becomes sold.

Thanks all for the excellent comments.
Any feedback regarding my “False Economy� question? Should one expect the cost of a 1970’s glider to quickly catch up to the cost of buying a ship from 2000 at twice the price, when repairs and maintenance costs are added in? I know from owning older sailboats that stuff breaks and it can be a constant battle.

I'm no expert (and there are plenty in this group) but I have owned a 1976 ASW 15 for 20 years or so. Unlike a car or sailboat, the routine maintenance costs have been very low. In fact, outside of self-inflicted damage, I've never had a large bill. There really isn't that much to wear out. Changing the Tost release, replacing the tire, a new grip on the stick, adding safety sleeves on the connections and replacing the battery are about all that I can think of. I'm toying with upgrading the panel but I don't race and it is functional for the kind of flying I do. If you opt for an older ship, be sure that parts are available should you need them. If you stick with the major manufacturers, it shouldn't be a problem. DG "tax" may be a consideration.

You won't get the same performance from an older glider and if a re-finish is in the cards, that is a major cost. Perhaps more than the glider itself and probably not recoverable in resale. If you have the time and skills to do this yourself (few of us do), you can save a lot. Also, safety cockpits weren't really a thing in the 70s. If your budget is limited and you can find a nice older ship, I wouldn't hesitate but to each, his own.