01-11-2025
Pioneer Aero has been working hard on the SBD’s upper fuselage over the past few months. This report covers the work performed so far on Fuselage Frame #3.
01-03-2025
Pioneer Aero is close to completing each of the interspar ribs which lie between Spars #1 and #2 in the SBD’s Wing Center Section. While they were only able to reuse one of these ribs original to B-22, most of the attaching clips for the others were in sufficient condition for salvage.
12-30-2024
Pioneer Aero has made great progress rebuilding Spars #2 and #3 for the SBD’s Wing Center Section, along with their associated fuselage frame components.
12-05-2024
Pioneer Aero has had to remanufacture all of the skins covering the SBD’s Wing Center Section. This article covers the process, using the upper skin spanning Spars #2 and #3 as an example.
11-14-2024
The latest CCKW Fuel Truck restoration update shows significant progress taking place with the vehicle’s cab, which is now very close to being structurally complete.
11-10-2024
Pioneer Aero has now fully disassembled the SBD’s Wing Center Section and is making great progress with the refurbishing/refabrication of its components to airworthy standards.
11-07-2024
The Military Aviation Museum has just acquired a pair of WWII-era Clarktor 6 aircraft tugs along with eight examples of the Cletrac M2. We will be restoring at least one of each type for moving aircraft at the Museum to add to the authenticity of visitor experiences.
10-25-2024
Pioneer Aero is rebuilding Spar #3 for the SBD’s Wing Center Section. They have also been working on the upper skin panel between Spars #2 and #3.
10-22-2024
Pioneer Aero is rebuilding the internal support structure for the SBD’s bomb displacement mechanism while also adding through-ports to the leading edges for the spent shell casing chutes associated with the nose-mounted .50-calibre machine guns.
10-19-2024
Pioneer Aero has worked hard on the inboard wing leading edges over the past few months, with the righthand example nearly complete and the lefthand side now also well advanced, as this article reveals.
10-14-2024
Pioneer Aero’s team has completely stripped down the SBD’s upper fuselage and is now repairing or refabricating parts from the forward section. Numerous original structural items were of sufficient quality to reuse after refurbishing.
10-07-2024
Museum volunteers are very close to completing the restoration of the Link C-3 Flight Trainer, a key instrument to the Allies victory in WWII. This article describes the history behind the device’s development along with a detailed breakdown of its significant components.