What our clients say about us...

 

Dear friends - Sheila and Jeff,

I did about 10 hours of flight, the Cessna-152, after winning lots of processes to be regularized this aircraft.
I thank God first of all, it allowed everything to happen properly.
However, I would ask humbly accept my "thank you" because you have allowed the realization of my boyhood dream, "having my own plane".
I leave here, my sincere wishes for much happiness to you and they can continue giving joy to countless other people, just as they did to me.
My sincere compliments!
Luis, Brazil

Hi Jeff
 
My RV-7 arrived this week, nice to have it here! I would just like to say that I was extremely impressed with the way it was packed and the attention to detail. I enjoyed how neatly and securely all the pieces were packed and that all the loose pieces were carefully bagged and labeled. I am quite a fussy guy so it was a pleasure to see something done so well. To you and your team, great job! Thank you so much.
Mark, South Africa

Hi Jeff,
The aircraft unpacked OK, and it all looks very good, thank-you.    Again my sincere thanks, you should go into the home construction business the way you guys build transportation frameworks….very strong.
Elton, South Africa

 

Jeff Sharman can often land a newer aerie ex States, better equipped & lower hours than you can purchase locally.
Andre, South Africa

Contact Jeff Sharman in the U.S.A. (ex South African)
He advertises in our favourite Aviation magazines - just do not have one to hand - all his details are in there. He has packed and shipped more used aircraft to the R.S.A. than you and I have had breakfasts.
Steve, South Africa

What is presented below is my experience buying an aircraft from the USA.
Most I have spoken to purchase their first aircraft with blind naivety. The terms now taken for granted like TBO, MPI, TTSN, etc were strange and the difference between the makes and models was confusing when I first got my PPL in 2004. Like a green swimming pool everyone has their own opinion on what works and in this case flies. I was lucky enough to buy into a great syndicate and aircraft. The experience gained in the last 6 years looking back has been remarkable.
The time comes when your butt itches to buy a second aircraft, mine came after obtaining my Commercial licence. I wanted something that was a solid IFR platform, had decent legs, reasonable speed and build after 1996. I started with a wish list of what I wanted and ended up with a PC12 that cost less than R1400.00 an hour. I laughed the wish list off and then looked at my money available which was about R1.5 Million. I could go into my various discussions with the banks but suffice to say they are not in the lending business. Multiple cover and sureties for the whole amount when I needed only R500 000 is insulting.
Reading the local publications it dawned on me that there are very, very few restart Cessna 182's available in South Africa. Also the prices looked disproportional to what you could pick up as what I thought was an equivalent. One advertisement that caught my eye was the old buck posing in front of a container with a packed aircraft. I called Jeff Sharman who, to say the least, is a South African good old boy staying in California. Straight off the bat I got filled in on just how Obama has managed to increase his business by stuffing up the USA economy. It was refreshing to get within the next day an email outlining what Jeff does and what the estimated transaction charges would be. The email also included a list of websites like http://www.trade-a-plane.com/. I spent night after night looking at aircraft playing the pros and cons off in my head. One forgets the sheer vastness of the USA and any aircraft too far from California where Jeff stays has large cost implications. Jeff found a few aircraft but one stood out, it sounded great and looked fantastic over the web http://www.ezchair.com/ for those who want to have a look. Jeff was off to do an appraisal for me. We spoke that night late our time while he munched on his breakfast. The aircraft was a dud carpets worn and Jeff just was not happy. We looked at a few other aircraft but nothing I was really happy with. Jeff called and told me to check out a 2001 T182T near lake Tahoe which had done 375 hours. It was checked out by Jeff and love was in the air for me. The problem how to explain to my wife that the new house we are building may need to be put on hold because my budget on the aircraft has been exceeded. Jeff came to the party and took a little off his commission and ferried the aircraft to where it would be dismantled. I was made aware of a crank AD that had not been complied with but that’s all I could find out. Hell what could be wrong with an aircrafts with 375 hours owned by a 68 year old?

Jeff has a really neat and simple way of handling the transaction. There is a purchase agreement for the aircraft and he is affiliated with a South African registered business to which the money is paid. He takes the ABSA rate on the day he invoices you. I did have my reservations about transferring such a lot of money to someone I had only spoken to over the phone. I had my wife do an ITC check on the company, verified the VAT numbers, banking details and then pushed the transfer button while praying. Jeff gives two invoices one for the purchase, packaging, commission, transport, etc and a second one when the aircraft arrives in South Africa for the VAT.

The process went fairly quickly so did the money. I got the aircraft insurance painlessly through Dorrien Andrews who did a very competitive deal. The aircraft was crated in a container and on its way.

The weeks went by and I bought another POH, got familiar with the avionics, stared at the specifications and learned the checklists. It was like the arrival of a new born.

The container arrived at Krugersdorp airfield and assembled by Ivo who also for some extra money test flew the aircraft and his work. In the mean time I had to get my licence turbo endorsed which was done at Superior flight School. Fred did the conversion himself and his passion is very evident.

The collection day was fantastic, escorted in the old aircraft to collect the new. I flew the new aircraft to via FAGC to Fly Inn. Fanie from Superior Millennium has always been mentioned in high regard and now I know why "a true gentlemen". Fanie researched for days on what would need to be done to comply and get the C of A, I knew about the crank but was floored when Fanie called asking if I could come in and discuss the quote.

Wow the aircraft needed a whole lot of 10 year SB's complied with as well as items stipulated by Cessna and Lycoming. One example is the aircraft has a hot prop which is 40% more expensive to overhaul than the standard Mcauley 3 blade, this with the other items on the list cost 18% of the initial purchase price. The discussion with my wife that evening revolved around why, what and how could this happen never mind the fact that we still owned 50% in the initial 182E. Fanie put my mind at ease when he told me that the next few MPI's would be standard and the only extras I could expect were snags I found.

The registration at the CAA was a pleasure with only a few pages of a 9 page form to be filled out. Jeff's wife Sheila de registers the aircraft in the USA and 3 days later the CAA calls with your erg no. You can buy a special reg no however most goodies are taken.

After biting the bullet paying the invoice and doing the final (hopefully) final sums I still will have what I consider to be an excellent aircraft at a great price.
Mark, South Africa

I have been doing this Vans kit thing for a while now.

The shipping costs differ hugely; - depending who you use, what they shipped, if it is going west around, or east around to SA etc etc, personalities also play a role and if you have a full container or part of a container
I have fallen into the trap telling someone what I paid and when they shipped it was more and then they got the moer in with me. I think that is why it is a sensitive issue.

The Basics:
1) Sort out Importers Number: Either your own or someone else’s.
2) Don't use Vans Standard shipping for the BIG stuff like kits and engines, the hand off on this side is not good and you get ripped of on this side.
3) Get Friendly with an importer, who you are comfortable with to handle the transaction for you.
4) INSURANCE! get it.

It can get very involved so that is why I like to do it the simple way, the Jeff Sharman way. (not the fastest, not always the cheapest, no online Query mechanism, but it arrives all intact, he knows how to ship aviation goods)
The only shipping damage I had in kit 20 consignments was when it was shipped with someone other that Sharman. Trying sorting out the insurance then is a nightmare.
Rudi, South Africa

Jeff Sharman is your man. I am sure cost wise you may (only may) find something better somewhere but at the end (of the cost sheet & possible damage cost/issues) you will be better off. This is the safest cost effective route.

The proof is in the pudding - Had some pudding!
Bennie

I imported the RV 6 through Jeff in the USA. Some good value for money, but you really need to do your homework. In the USA when it comes to experimental you need to know what you are buying - engine, who build the aircraft, hours etc. I went for basic and low hours, so that I can upgrade back in SA the way I want it to be. The airframe and engine has 101 hours. The price that I paid you cannot even buy a new Jab SP, so for anybody whom wants to buy a real experimental plane and does not want to build, speak to Jeff.
Santana, South Africa

Suggest you contact Jeff Sharman at Jarlin.com, he will prepurchase the aircraft and if you go ahead he will containerise ship to SA and re-assemble fly away Krugersdorp
Ticky, South Africa

I have used Jeff couple times in past as have a number of Avcommers. His price is "cheaper" than the guy I think you talking about and I have no complaints. Nico (Aerostratus) may also be able to help, but I think he gets Jeff to do his US work as well. Jeff Sharman comes highly recommended.
Rod, South Africa

I've met Jeff at Oshkosh and chatted with him and he has assisted many SA folks to buy USA aircraft and get them flying here and on the SA register. He is an aircraft engineer who has also built several magnificent RV aircraft and the great part is that you will be dealing with an honest individual who really knows his stuff not just commercially, but mechanically as well.
Steve, South Africa

Jeff Sharman of Jarlin Aviation and had no major problems, took a while as the container was first checked by US custom (2 weeks) then got left behind on departure (another two weeks), then got held outside of port due to high winds (another 5 days). All in all a fairly pleasant experience, no pumping veins at all.
Charles, South Africa

Get hold of Jeff Sharman - jeff @ jarlin . com. He has shipped most of the kits to come to SA. I don't know cost, but Jan Hannekom (jan on here) got his shipped by Jeff and he is building his second RV7A and I think there is a 10 in the pipeline. Container takes 2-3 months to get here and then depending on the backup at Durbs a couple more days to get to GP. Delivery at FALA or FAGM where you would have to collect.
Juri,

Jeff is a good man alright, a chip off his old mans block.
I wonder what Harry Sharman, S.African LAME NO. 65, my old mentor from Baragwanath, would make of Jarlin Aviation being "dot com"
If he was still around, I'm sure he would have a rude comment or two!!
Tony