"You can't tell the players without a program." - Kid selling programs at Yankees game

By now we probably have a very good idea of the makes and models of aircraft that fit with our mission, budget, insurance and crew experience/training. We may have even picked a specific plane. What we need to have is our own program!

Now is the time to begin to prioritize the dozen or so items that are important to us, so that we can evaluate the different planes available for sale. Typically, among these are:

• Year of Manufacture
• Serial Number
• Total Airframe Time
• Total Engine(s) Time
• Time Since Major Overhaul
• Time Since Hot Section Inspection
• Time and Date since Prop or T/R Overhaul
• Inspection Status and Maintenance History
• Damage History, if any
• Type of Communications & Navigation Radios
• Type of Auto-Pilot and Flight Director
• Type of long range navigation: GPS, LORAN, etc.
• Type of Weather Avoidance Equipment: Radar, Stormscope, Strike Finder
• Unique Optional Equipment: Vortex Generators, Raisbeck Mods, etc.
• Exterior: Age, Condition and Color
• Interior: Age, Condition, Color and Materials
• Asking Price (often it is "make offer")
• Estimated Value from Bluebook, Vref, and other research