NAFA member Chris Lee, President, Aircraft Division at 1st Source Bank, shares his latest article on aircraft acquisitions.
There is an old saying that there are more ways to do something wrong than there are to do it right. Few industries illustrate that reality better than aviation.
Aircraft acquisitions are no exception.
Over the years, I have participated in aviation from nearly every seat imaginable. I have flown aircraft, sold aircraft, financed aircraft, and owned aircraft. Along the way, I have witnessed exceptionally successful acquisition decisions and more than a few that left buyers wondering how they ended up with an aircraft that did not deliver what they expected.
This article is the first in a series designed to help prospective buyers think through the aircraft acquisition process. Not simply to avoid mistakes, but to understand the decision-making framework that successful aircraft owners use.
This article was originally published by AvBuyer in July 2026.