About 7 years ago, before I got my last plane, I was , again, looking to buy an Aero Commander. This time it was a 680F.
Found one in the upper midwest. Stored in a large WWII hanger in a small SD town along one of the East-West routes to Osk-Kosh. The plane was owned by a Non-profit Church, to which it had been donated by the estate of the previous owner.
The church just wanted the money; partly to pay for the outstanding Hangar Lien. Here's where it got interesting.
The Owner was flying to Oshkosh for the flyin; stopped at this town for fuel. FBO, Mechanic tells him....he's got a problem (probably leaky hydraulics), and Conviced him the plane was not airworthy.
They agree to store the plane while the guy goes home and makes arrangements.
Mechanic does lots of stuff, finds more problems...bills mount. Project gets put on hold. FBO kindly agrees to store the plane (essentially for free...).
Project lags. Man has protracted illness, dies; leaves estate to the church.
Meanwhile. It turns out thie Hangar is on an old WWII airbase, and is currently housing 20 + aircraft in similar conditions.
I check out the plane, which is in virtually perfect condition. No work appears to have been done. and it looks like it could fly out there today.
FBO manager hears of all this; Says there are issues, including a huge backlog of unpaid rent and that He's got an FAA Lein against it.
I go back and try to discuss this with the Church, they agree to sell at a price we're both happy with. I say I'll pay for the rental lien and it should be "Bob's yer Uncle"..
But its not.
I call to make arrangements with the FBO for my mechanic and I to square things and he tells me the deal is off, He's sold the plane to pay off the lien and Im too late.
I check and sure enough, Flight Aware shows the plane heading to Florida and ultimately out of the country.
The Moral of this story is. Regardless of WHERE you are stuck; Arrange to have the repairs done with those you trust. If it requires a Ferry Flight and flying home with the Gear Down and Locked....Do so. If it isn't airworthy, pull the wings and truck it out if you have to.
