Let's say you need a part for your airplane -- not a maintenance item like a Brackett foam filter or a spin-on oil filter, but something more exotic, say an elevator trim tab or a new wingtip. The immediate impulse is to order it new through your shop or FBO or get it from one of the discount vendors like Preferred Airparts. The second impulse will be to sit down and steel yourself for the price.As we reported in the September 2007 issue of Aviation Consumer, finding replacement parts is getting to be an expensive chore. Often overlooked, particularly by owners, is the option of buying a used part from an aircraft salvage yard. Around the country, there are dozens of small and not-so-small businesses that deal in recycled airplane parts.The list of salvage-part benefits is encouraging. The parts are made to fit, they've already been tested, they're already airworthy and legal and they're ready to ship. Best of all, they cost half (or less) the price of a new part.The downside is that they're used and sometimes show it, they need to be inspected and may need some repairs or cosmetic work, depending on price. And you usually buy them sight unseen, so what you don't see is what you get anyway.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/ownership/tails-from-the-crypt-making-sense-of-salvage