High Performance Aviation guides buyers through each stage below, from the first conversation about mission and budget through closing. That guidance comes from Brandon Ray, an ATP, CFI, CFII, and MEI who has earned Master Instructor recognition seven times, holds an A&P certificate and a Wharton MBA, and carries multiple PIC type ratings in jets.

Define your mission and budget

Before you look at a single listing, get specific about what the airplane needs to do. Typical trip length, number of passengers, runways you fly into, and how many hours a year you expect to fly all narrow the field fast. Pair that with an honest budget that accounts for more than the purchase price: hangar, insurance, maintenance reserves, training, and upgrade costs. HPA works primarily with buyers in the high-end piston, turboprop, and light-to-mid-size jet categories, so the guidance you get is grounded in aircraft we know well.

Search the market

Once your mission and budget are set, the search is a filtering exercise. Aircraft are marketed through broker listings, type-club forums, and industry marketplaces, and pricing varies more than most first-time buyers expect for reasons not always visible in a photo: damage history, engine time remaining, avionics generation, and how well the airplane was maintained. A broker who works the market daily can point you toward well-kept aircraft and steer you away from listings that look good on paper but carry hidden issues.

Evaluate candidate aircraft

Each aircraft on your short list needs a real evaluation, not just a walk-around: reviewing logbooks for gaps or red flags, checking airworthiness directives and compliance history, confirming engine and prop times against overhaul schedules, and assessing the avionics and interior against what similar aircraft are selling for. It is easy to fall in love with an airplane’s paint and panel and miss a maintenance pattern that tells a different story.

Make an offer

A well-structured offer protects you while keeping the transaction moving: a purchase agreement with contingencies for a prebuy inspection and financing, a reasonable deposit held in escrow, and clear timelines for each step. Offer price should be grounded in comparable sales, not just the seller’s asking price. If you plan to finance, HPA does not lend directly but can connect you with lending resources it works with regularly, which is worth doing before you are under contract.

The prebuy inspection

The prebuy is the buyer’s single most important protection. An independent shop with no financial interest in the sale inspects the airframe, engine, avionics, and systems, and reviews the logbooks in detail. Findings typically lead to one of three outcomes: proceed as agreed, renegotiate price or repairs, or walk away. HPA facilitates the prebuy scope for each aircraft based on its history and location, and coordinates directly with the shop you choose so nothing falls through the cracks.

Escrow and closing

Once the prebuy is resolved, funds are held by a neutral escrow agent, title is searched to confirm the aircraft is free of liens, and the FAA bill of sale and registration are filed with the FAA Aircraft Registry. A clean closing depends on paperwork being accurate and sequenced correctly, which is where an experienced broker keeps the deal from stalling at the finish line.

Post-purchase transition

The work is not quite finished at closing. New owners typically need insurance effective at closing, transition or type-specific training, initial hangar and maintenance logistics, and updated records. HPA does not disappear once the paperwork is filed: our team helps owners with insurance, maintenance, and management services well beyond the transaction itself.