Buying an aircraft is the easy part — buying the right one, at the right price, with no surprises in the logbooks, is where it gets hard. Will Smith Aviation represents buyers and sellers through the whole transaction: defining the mission, running the market, vetting candidates, managing the pre-buy, and negotiating the deal. And because we operate aircraft on our own Part 135 certificate, we can take it from purchase to revenue without ever changing hands.
Whether you're buying your first aircraft, upgrading, selling, or structuring shared ownership, the work is the same in spirit: protect your interest, price it honestly, and close cleanly.
We represent the buyer end to end — independent of any one seller or broker — so the aircraft you close on is the right one for your mission, not the one someone needed to move.
Selling an aircraft is a marketing and diligence exercise. We position the aircraft, qualify buyers, and manage the process so you net more and close faster — without the tire-kickers.
The advantage of buying through an operator: we recommend aircraft we'd be willing to put on our own certificate. Close with us, then place it into management, maintenance, and charter revenue — one team, aligned incentives.
Not every aircraft needs a single owner. We help structure co-ownership and syndicated ownership, and connect you with aviation lenders and finance partners to put the right capital behind the aircraft.
A typical buy-side acquisition follows the same path. The timeline depends on the aircraft and the market, but the steps don't change.
Where you fly, how often, how many seats, what runways — we translate that into the make, model, and vintage that fit, and a realistic budget to match.
We work the listings, the off-market aircraft, and our operator network to build a short list of genuine candidates — not just what's advertised.
Logbooks, damage history, AD/SB status, engine and maintenance programs, and ownership history. We rank candidates on what they'll actually cost to own, not just sticker price.
We structure the letter of intent, negotiate price and terms, and protect your position on deposits, contingencies, and the inspection window.
We manage the pre-buy at a qualified facility, review squawks, and negotiate corrections or credits before you're committed.
Escrow, title, registration, and delivery — coordinated with your counsel. If you're placing it into management, the hand-off to our flight department starts here.
We agree the engagement in writing before any work starts, so you know exactly what representation costs going in. Typical structures:
Figures shown are typical ranges for orientation, not a quote. Every engagement is scoped to the specific aircraft, deal size, and complexity, and confirmed in a written engagement letter before work begins.
We advise across the capital spectrum, matching the aircraft to the mission rather than pushing a particular make or model. A rough map of the tiers we work in:
Tell us the mission — or the aircraft — and we'll tell you honestly what we'd do. No obligation, and a real person replies, usually within the hour.
Will Smith Aviation provides aircraft acquisition, sales, and advisory services. We are not a licensed financial, investment, tax, or legal advisor; ownership-structuring, financing, and securities matters are coordinated with appropriately licensed professionals and your own counsel. Fee figures are typical ranges for orientation only and are confirmed per engagement in writing.