06-16-2025
The team at Pioneer Aero Ltd. has begun taking apart and restoring components for the SBD’s lower rear fuselage. This article covers some of the work performed so far.
06-08-2025
This article shows engineers from Pioneer Aero Ltd. taking the last sizable subassembly from the SBD – its lower rear fuselage, and fabricating a jig for its eventual restoration.
05-22-2025
Pioneer Aero recently achieved two major milestones in the SBD’s restoration. They completed the assembly of all five primary spars for the Wing Center Section, after which they began trial-fitting Spars #1 and #2 into the jig, along with the ribs linking these two major subassemblies together!
05-14-2025
Amidst all of the larger structural components which Pioneer Aero’s engineers are working on, they have also refurbished or remade a significant number of smaller items for the SBD’s fuselage, which this article will help describe.
05-02-2025
Pioneer Aero has refurbished or, where necessary, remanufactured each of the stringers in the SBD’s upper fuselage, being able to reuse roughly 80% of the original material. The following article describes their progress so far.
03-15-2025
Pioneer Aero’s engineers recently revisited the SBD’s lefthand inboard leading edge to install the ammunition cartridge port. This opening allowed spent ammunition casings from the lefthand, nose-mounted machine gun to fall away cleanly from the airframe.
03-14-2025
Following the arrival of the specialized extruded aluminum for the upper spar cap, Pioneer Aero’s restoration team has made significant progress reassembling Spar #2 for the SBD’s Wing Center Section.
02-26-2025
Pioneer Aero has made major progress rebuilding the spars for the SBD’s Wing Center Section. Spars #3, #4 & #5 and now ready for installation, while Spars #1 and #2 are close behind.
02-18-2025
Pioneer Aero has made significant progress tearing down and rebuilding the upper longerons for the SBD’s fuselage. These are key components to the aircraft’s structural integrity.
02-08-2025
Pioneer Aero Ltd. has made progress restoring the SBD’s Rollover Frame. This structure is designed to help minimize aircrew injury should the Dauntless flip over during landing or takeoff operations.
02-06-2025
Pioneer Aero Ltd. has been working hard to repair the SBD’s upper fuselage frames. This article covers their progress rebuilding Frames #5 & 6.
01-31-2025
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 #4.