Ardmore Arrival:
In late May, the container ship Olivia Maersk finally arrived in New Zealand following a nearly month-long journey halfway across the world bearing the fuselage of our SBD-5. Following a period in customs for inspection, the Dauntless was loaded aboard a flatbed truck for the three hour journey from the Port of Tauranga to Pioneer's workshop in Ardmore.
The SBD, safe and secure at Ardmore following its arrival at Pioneer Aero's base. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
SBD-5 BuNo 36175 getting airborne for the first time in Ardmore! (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Safely on terra firma at Ardmore. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Pioneer Aero Ltd.'s Director Steve Cox (left) and Chief Engineer Martin Hedley are clearly excited to have the project safely at their facility. Work can now begin in ernest! (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Unwrapping the Prize:
Soon after the Dauntless arrived at Pioneer Aero's facility the restoration team got to work removing the transport cover shrouding the fuselage. The company's chief engineer and project lead, Martin Hedley, had the honors, and it was clear from the massive smile on his face just how happy he was to have the Dauntless in the house!
With the safe arrival of SBD-5 BuNo 36175 at Pioneer Aero Ltd.'s facility, it was time to unwrap her. Pioneer Aero Ltd.'s Chief Engineer and project lead Martin Hedley begins tearing at the transport cover! (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Chief Engineer and project lead, Martin Hedley, reveals the SBD's squadron code. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Now fully unwrapped with no transit damage, the restoration team noted how amazed they were by the airframe's overall excellent condition after all the time it spent in the lake and, later, in storage. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
The Dauntless is seen here sitting beside the Fighter Factory shipping container which has many SBD components for her restoration stored within. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
The Dauntless sitting inside Pioneer Aero Ltd's facility, a WWII-vintage RNZAF hangar. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
First Air Show!
On June 4th, just a few days after the SBD arrived with Pioneer Aero, the aircraft took part in its first air show - albeit, while firmly on the ground! The New Zealand Warbirds Association hosted this event, dubbed Warbirds on Parade, at Ardmore Airport. It was an immense success, with the Dauntless garnering a lot of attention from visitors to the show. As Pioneer Aero noted: "Being able to show the starting point of the project was an eye opener for the hundreds of people who came up to look at her. Director Steve Cox, Chief Engineer Martin Hedley, and our respective wives Sharon Cox and Heather Urquhart answered hundreds of questions and handed out just as many flyers explaining the history of 36175."
SBD-5 BuNo 36175 on display at the Warbirds on Parade air show at Ardmore Airport on June 4th, 2023 just prior to the public entering the event. She was located in a prime spot just outside the main hangar doors. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
This is the display board explaining the SBD's history up to now. The Pioneer Aero team handed out paper copies of this document to the hundreds of visitors who came by to see the aircraft during the air show. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
A view showing air show visitors taking a good look at the airframe, and reading the display boards describing its history. According to Pioneer Aero, visitors peppered them with numerous questions about the project, with the most commonly asked being queeries about the large round hole in the left side of the fuselage. Learning that it was the life raft stowage compartment seemed to be a light bulb moment for many people, according to Martin Hedley. (photo via Pioneer Aero)
Pioneer Aero Ltd.'s Chief Engineer, Martin Hedley, and Director, Steve Cox, standing proudly beside the Dauntless during the air show. Both men, of course, are wearing Military Aviation Museum SBD T-shirts and Pioneer Aero Ltd. hats! (photo via Pioneer Aero)