Finding and Acquiring an Off-Market Citation M2
When Greenwing Resource began searching for a Citation M2, its aviation team wasn’t new to jet ownership—but it was new to the Citation family.
Chief Pilot Stan Bergey understood enough about aircraft transactions to recognize the value of having Citation-specific expertise on the company’s side.
After discussing Greenwing’s requirements, budget and aircraft options with Denise Wilson, the company engaged The Jet Agent to represent it in the acquisition.
Within one week, three Citation M2 candidates were identified.
The aircraft that emerged as the clear choice wasn’t publicly advertised for sale.
It was an off-market 2015 Citation M2, serial number 525-0870.
Forty-five days after Greenwing Resource signed its acquisition agreement with The Jet Agent, the aircraft was placed into service.
Transaction Snapshot
Aircraft: 2015 Cessna Citation M2
Serial Number: 525-0870
Client: Greenwing Resource
Client Representative: Stan Bergey, Chief Pilot
Representation: Buyer
Transaction: Off-market Citation M2 acquisition
Inspection Facility: West Star Aviation, Grand Junction, Colorado
Result: Aircraft placed into service 45 days after engagement
The Jet Agent’s involvement included:
- Requirements and budget analysis
- Citation M2 market search
- Identification of three acquisition candidates within one week
- Off-market aircraft sourcing
- Initial aircraft due diligence
- Test flight
- Pre-purchase inspection
- Acquisition and closing guidance
Experienced Jet Operators, New to the Citation Family
Greenwing Resource already had experience with jet ownership.
But entering a different aircraft family introduces a different market, different aircraft considerations and a different group of potential opportunities.
Stan summarized the situation well:
The company knew enough to know what it didn’t know.
That recognition led Greenwing Resource to engage The Jet Agent for Citation-specific acquisition representation rather than relying solely on its previous aircraft ownership experience.
The process began with an in-depth discussion of budget, requirements and available options.
Then the search began.
Three Citation M2 Candidates in One Week
Within a week, The Jet Agent had three M2 opportunities in front of the client.
That gave Greenwing Resource more than a list of aircraft advertisements.
It gave the company actual acquisition candidates that could be considered against its requirements.
One quickly emerged as the strongest opportunity.
The 2015 Citation M2 was not publicly listed for sale.
It had been sourced off market.
Why an Off-Market Search Matters
Public aircraft listings show what owners have formally decided to advertise.
They don’t necessarily represent every aircraft that could be purchased.
Some owners may consider selling without publicly marketing their aircraft. Others may be willing to engage when approached with a credible buyer and transaction opportunity.
That is where an established industry network can become valuable.
Stan later described a significant part of The Jet Agent’s value as giving Greenwing Resource access to relationships that had taken decades to build.
Those relationships helped expand the search beyond publicly advertised M2 inventory.
But an off-market aircraft is not automatically a better aircraft—or a better value.
The same discipline still has to apply.
The aircraft has to fit the mission, its condition and history need to be understood, and the transaction has to make economic sense for the buyer.
Due Diligence Before Closing
Finding 525-0870 was only the first part of the acquisition.
The Jet Agent conducted initial due diligence before Greenwing Resource moved through the remaining evaluation process.
The aircraft then underwent a test flight and pre-purchase inspection at West Star Aviation in Grand Junction, Colorado.
This step was important for the same reason it would have been with a publicly advertised aircraft:
Off-market sourcing expands the buyer’s opportunities.
It does not replace proper aircraft evaluation.
The objective was to understand what Greenwing Resource was buying before the company completed the acquisition.
Citation Knowledge Throughout the Transaction
Stan specifically credited Denise’s knowledge of the Citation line and market with helping manage expectations throughout the transaction.
That market knowledge remained relevant after the aircraft had been found.
Aircraft acquisitions require a series of decisions involving the aircraft itself, the transaction and the path toward closing.
Stan said The Jet Agent kept the client informed of the actions available at every stage of the process.
That combination of sourcing, aircraft evaluation and transaction guidance ultimately moved Greenwing Resource from acquisition search to operating its Citation M2 in approximately 45 days.
In Stan’s Words
“As a second-time jet buyer new to the Citation lineup, we knew enough to know that we didn’t know enough. After a few conversations with Denise discussing our needs and her ability to meet them, we engaged The Jet Agent for our acquisition of an M2.
After in-depth discussion of budget and options, she had three planes in front of us within a week. The clear winner was an off-market beauty with motivated sellers.
Denise’s knowledge of the Citation line and market enabled her to skillfully manage
expectations on both sides of the transaction. She kept us well-apprised of every action available to us at every step of the process, resulting in a smooth closing in just 6 weeks.
We are very happy with the level of service we received from The Jet Agent and would recommend Denise and her crew without reservation.”
— Stan Bergey, Chief Pilot
The Value of the Network
After the acquisition, Stan offered another observation about what The Jet Agent brought to the transaction.
He noted that experienced professionals in any specialized business develop networks that support their clients—often without the client ever seeing everything happening behind the scenes.
He described a significant part of the value Greenwing Resource received as access to relationships that had taken decades to build.
For an aircraft buyer, that network can matter in several ways.
It can identify aircraft that aren’t publicly for sale.
It can help determine which opportunities deserve closer investigation.
And it can connect the buyer with the specialists necessary to move an aircraft through evaluation, inspection and closing.
The network isn’t the product.
It is part of the infrastructure that makes the acquisition process work.
The Result
Greenwing Resource acquired off-market Citation M2 525-0870.
From the time the company signed its acquisition agreement with The Jet Agent to the time the aircraft was placed into service, approximately 45 days elapsed.
During that period:
- The Jet Agent identified three M2 candidates within a week.
- Greenwing selected an off-market aircraft.
- Initial due diligence was completed.
- The aircraft underwent a test flight.
- A pre-purchase inspection was completed at West Star Aviation in Grand Junction.
- The transaction proceeded through closing.
- The Citation M2 was placed into service.
The speed of this particular acquisition is not a promise that every aircraft transaction can be completed on the same timeline.
It is the documented result of this transaction.
What This Citation M2 Acquisition Demonstrates
The Public Market Isn’t the Entire Market
The M2 Greenwing Resource ultimately acquired wasn’t publicly listed for sale.
Expanding the search beyond advertised inventory gave the company an additional acquisition opportunity.
Specialized Experience Complements an Experienced Flight Department
Greenwing Resource already had jet-operating experience.
The company didn’t hire The Jet Agent because it lacked aviation knowledge.
It engaged The Jet Agent for knowledge of the Citation market and aircraft transaction process that complemented the expertise already inside its flight operation.
A Network Creates Access, Not a Shortcut
Relationships helped identify the off-market M2.
They did not replace due diligence.
The aircraft still underwent initial review, a test flight and a pre-purchase inspection before the acquisition was completed.
Finding the Aircraft Is Only One Part of Buyer Representation
The assignment continued after 525-0870 was identified.
The Jet Agent remained involved as the aircraft moved through due diligence, test flight, prebuy and closing.
Transaction Speed Should Be a Result, Not the Objective
Greenwing Resource’s M2 was placed into service 45 days after the company engaged The Jet Agent.
But the objective was not simply to complete the transaction quickly.
It was to identify the right aircraft, properly evaluate it and move efficiently once the opportunity made sense.
Looking for a Citation M2—Including Aircraft That Aren’t Publicly for Sale?
The M2 you ultimately acquire may already be advertised.
Or it may belong to an owner who hasn’t placed it on the market at all.
The Jet Agent searches both.
Our acquisition process combines Citation-specific market knowledge, public and off-market sourcing, aircraft evaluation, negotiation and transaction management to help buyers make informed decisions.
The objective isn’t to find an off-market M2 merely for the sake of finding something private.
It is to expand the search until we find the right aircraft.
Discuss Your Citation M2 Acquisition
