I flew for Mike between 03-06. During that time, many ferry permits were honored from the fisdo, leading to many flights where things were decided to either not work, or stopped working. We would take 1 plane to XYZ airport to look at a Navajo with low time, and out of time (motors) on the same visit. If they struck a deal, at a low price, the mission would become a very thorough preflight and runup, documenting what worked and didn't, and a ferry permit. Then it was a 2 ship flight to MBT (mufreesboro, tn) where nothing seemed to go right. Real experience building flights. Mechanics would then do a full annual and really take a look at everything. Then the fun began. Empty legs (interior included) to "tune town" outside of BNA for the panther conversion (he now owns that STC process), followed by paint in a few locales, and interior. He was big on reusing avionics from the CA side and putting it on the right side. Left side was latest and greatest. Interior was latest and greatest, paint was immaculate. The finished product is truly "like new". His sales pitch is "turn key" and it truly is. A finished product bird was interesting in the test flight (always some bugs), but his mechanics took care of those sqwauks with ease. The END Product was amazing and a joy to fly. The demo flights were normally folks who wanted cabin space they could fly themselves and bring the family, and pets, with a lav available (if needed).
When I flew with them it was a mix of "wanted turbine without fuel burn and school costs" or "looking at a baron but this goes just as fast with more space". Most clients seemed to be developers, residents of dual climates, or businessmen in a regional locale facing all climates. The final product was a joy to fly with space far bigger compared to a baron, seneca, or diamond. If it fit, is shipped, and losing a motor at V1 (or whatever previous to turbine-it's been 10 years- term), it would carry you back to the airport instead of the crash site. Like I said earlier, it was a house flip in airplane terms, and he views it as fixing anything and everything worn/broken, all of the latest AD's, all of the mods, and greatest performamce with looks, interiors, and avionics available.
And Mike himself, it took showing the latest "Mike Jones" video before he understood the joke that the few of us flying for him made. He's a devout southern baptist, and his facial expressions would have gardnered a million likes. He's a great guy who can't lie to save himself. Straight shooter in a business model of turning Navajos to the degree that nobody will find a fault in. At the time, he was buying them sub 200k, spending 300k, and selling them at $1M. Not sure where costs are now, but he survived 09', and always said he couldn't live with himself if he missed something he could have done to make a better product. Regardless of airframe time, he did every inspection and upgrade possible to say it's "like new" beyond a new shell and frame.
All that being said, I wish him the best, but if I ever buy an airplane... it will be twin and turbine, likely with an APU. Call me spoiled, or knowing what I'd actually want to fly. Pretty much everything beats a nose plug for oxygen and 200kts true in an "Econ" burn in the lower flight levels. Fun time at my point in the career stage though.