Need a vintage Warbird/classic appraiser- Calif. preferred

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:59 pm

I need some ideas on who could quickly appraise a mid-century vintage airplane for potential donation to a museum. If there is someone in California who would do the appraisal on-site, or alternatively someone who could give an approximation through photos, documents and updated information on the airplane, I would appreciate their contact info. PMs are fine.

Thanks!

kevin

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:00 pm

FYI- the aircraft is flyable and in great shape, one annual away from making a delivery flight to a museum. Low-time radial engine, rare type.

kevin

Dan K · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:20 pm

tulsaboy wrote:

FYI- the aircraft is flyable and in great shape, one annual away from making a delivery flight to a museum. Low-time radial engine, rare type.

kevin

Just messin' with ya', TB. :axe:

The Inspector · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 7:42 pm

Dan K wrote:

tulsaboy wrote:

FYI- the aircraft is flyable and in great shape, one annual away from making a delivery flight to a museum. Low-time radial engine, rare type.

kevin

Just messin' with ya', TB. :axe:

Dan K wrote:

tulsaboy wrote:

FYI- the aircraft is flyable and in great shape, one annual away from making a delivery flight to a museum. Low-time radial engine, rare type.

kevin

"when the co-pilot flinches, I flare"

Just messin' with ya', TB. :axe:

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 9:07 pm

Gee whiz, guys...that one looks pretty good to me!

kevin

Mudge · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:23 pm

tulsaboy wrote:

I need some ideas on who could quickly appraise a mid-century vintage airplane for potential donation to a museum. If there is someone in California who would do the appraisal on-site, or alternatively someone who could give an approximation through photos, documents and updated information on the airplane, I would appreciate their contact info. PMs are fine.

Thanks!

kevin

At the risk of appearing dense, (yeah...yeah...too late to avoid that :oops:

), if it's going to be donated to a museum, why does it need to be appraised?

Mudge the only semi dense

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

What airport is it at? There is no such thing as a "certified" aircraft appraiser last I checked, only "qualified" (whatever that means). I haven't checked in a few years though. Probably any aircraft dealer could do it or someplace like Aero Trader.

You really want someone with an IA or an A&P to check it out to make sure it is mechanically sound. A lot of people have made some bad mistakes on aircraft with shiny paint jobs. A good appraisal should be akin to a 100 hr or Annual inspection.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 742

Mudge,

Probably because the donor needs an appraised value for IRS Purposes. His decision to donate or sell may or may not hinge on the appraised value. (Just my guess)

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Mudge wrote:

At the risk of appearing dense, (yeah...yeah...too late to avoid that :oops:

), if it's going to be donated to a museum, why does it need to be appraised?

Mudge the only semi dense

Fair question. My guess is that the donor wants a tax deduction, but doesn't want to spend the money or expend any effort to hire an appraiser. On the other hand, the museum would present a conflict of interest if they were to do the appraisal themselves.

Mudge · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 10:44 pm

Well DUH...I didn't think of the IRS.

Mudge the schooled

Eric Presten · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:12 pm

Call me (707) 939-8913. I can do it for you.

JDK · **Posted:** Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:25 pm

Re- Mudge's Q - it's an interesting assumption that something donated or gifted to a museum might not need a commercial value. As a matter of fact, most museums have to have values on their artefacts, major items individually for a number of purposes, not least of which is security and insurance requirements - even if they won't enter the open market. And nothing to do with tax in that end / case.

Sometimes there are cases where a 'donation' is part or an element of a trade - a value there is obviously important.

Museums take a very active interest in commercial valuations.

And an independent assessment is an obvious requirement as has been touched on.

(I hope that it's noted I've used the term 'commercial value'. There are other values we have for things in museums.)

Not a silly question at all.

Regards,

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:09 am

Kevin, BDK, and JDK are all spot-on in their analysis of why we need what we need... IRS tax deductibility is an issue, we can't do it ourselves (no 501(c)(3) is allowed to do valuations/appraisals for their donors according to tax laws), and commercial valuation does translate in some ways to the artifact/aircraft's viability for the museum.

kevin

Wildchild · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:11 pm

If its a rare plane in flyable condition then why make her sleep in a muesum...?

tulsaboy · **Posted:** Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:18 pm

Who said anything about sleeping? And why would it have to sleep at a museum? Once it is at our museum, may i ask you to sponsor the first flight hour? Won't be cheap, but will be loud and fun...

Kevin

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