Restoration Blog

The SBD’s tail fin securely mounted in its custom-built jig at Pioneer Aero’s workshop in Ardmore, New Zealand. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.) Jigging up the SBD’s Tail Fin: The team at Pioneer Aero Ltd. has constructed a custom-built steel jig to hold the SBD’s tail fin. They designed this fixture to lock key points…

The center section jig in the final stages of construction. Engineers Craig Cunha and Allen House are positioning the right hand end plate, ensuring symmetry with the left hand plate, which is already in position. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.) Cat in the Cradle – Jigging up the Wing Center Section: The team at Pioneer…

A close up view of the damage to the wing leading edge of SBD-5 Bu.36175 as it rises from Lake Michigan in September, 1994. The structure is crushed nearly flat against the main spar in the wing center section. Salvaging useable components from this area has been a challenge! (image via A&T Recovery) Refurbish or…

Our SBD emerging from Lake Michigan following A&T Recovery’s salvage operations on September 14th, 1994. Note the numeral “22” on the port wing leading edge… this proved to be one of the key identifiers in proving the origin of our wings. (image via A&T Recovery) Wings Acquisition When we purchased Kevin Smith’s Dauntless project in…

A shot from July 2023 showing the SBD-5 engine cowling trial-fitted to the A-24 wind machine. The previous owner of these items, Kevin Smith, collected them from all over the USA over a 35 year period. The wind machine came from Texas, whilst the accessory cowls arrived from a variety of different sources. The engine…

The SBD’s fin subassembly prior to Pioneer de-riveting it from the upper fuselage. Note that the main attachment point for the horizontal stabilizer sits at the mating surface of the three-legged, bare steel jig fitting. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.) In mid-September, Pioneer Aero separated the SBD’s upper fuselage from the airframe, mounting the subassembly…

In our last restoration update, the team at Pioneer Aero Ltd. had just separated the upper fuselage subassembly from the airframe. In the intervening weeks, they have further disassembled the fuselage into its major component parts and begun mounting them in purpose-built jigs for their rebuild. The lower image is reproduced here as a reference….

A side view of a freshly manufactured SBD fuselage assembly. In good time, the restoration team at Pioneer Aero Ltd will return our Dauntless fuselage assembly to an equally pristine condition. (image taken from page 89 of the SBD-6 Erection & Maintenance Manual) Fuselage Disassembly: Over the past few weeks, the aircraft restoration specialists at…

A view through an access hatch in the SBD’s rear fuselage before the teardown began. Most of what is visible here is the wiring for the radar and radio systems. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.) The Big Strip: Following its arrival in late May, the restoration team at Pioneer Aero Ltd. has finally had the…

Our SBD arriving at Pioneer Aero Ltd. aboard a truck in late May, 2023. (photo via Pioneer Aero) 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,…