Restoration Updates

Structural restoration of the SBD’s elevators is nearly complete. Trial-fitting them against the stabilizers (under rebuild off-site) will allow the final parts to be added, followed by the application of a new fabric covering.

After completing the restoration of all primary airframe components aft of Spar #3 in the SBD’s wing center section, Pioneer Aero has now removed Spar #3, along with much of the fuel tank structure intersecting with Spar #2.

Using the original as a guide, and refurbishing parts from donor airframes, Pioneer Aero has recently rebuilt most of the SBD’s arrestor hook handle assembly which fits on the left side of the pilot’s cockpit.

The SBD’s tail fin is all but fully assembled now, and merely awaits completion of the upper rear fuselage before the final rivets can be driven home. Work on the upper rear fuselage gun tunnel and flare loading access panel also took place this month.

Pioneer Aero has made great progress restoring the SBD’s wing center section. This report provides an update on their work between Spar #3 and the wing trailing edge.

After making great progress with the SBD’s righthand inboard leading edge structure, Pioneer Aero has begun doing the same for the lefthand unit.

Restoring internal fuselage components for the Museum’s SBD-5 Dauntless, such as the radar receiver & rectifier tray, rear cockpit floor and rudder pedal supports.

Pioneer Aero has restored or remanufactured all of the components for the SBD’s tail fin and is nearing the completion of its final reassembly.

The Dauntless wing center section is by far the airframe’s most complex subassembly, and Pioneer Aero is now about half way through the restoration of the example from our SBD. This article describes the latest progress.

The Douglas SBD Dauntless had the capacity to deploy parachute flares to illuminate targets for nighttime missions. This article describes the restoration of our SBD’s parachute flare tubes.

After many months of work, the team at Pioneer Aero has essentially completed the righthand leading edge structure for the SBD’s wing center section. They have now converted the jig to begin rebuilding the lefthand example.

After dismantling the upper rear fuselage and restoring all but one of the fifteen frames, which had to be replaced, Pioneer Aero has started reassembling the fuselage subassembly in its jig.