Waiting and helping out

Posted by on May 10, 2019 in Blog | 1 comment

A delay at the border for the P39 container has meant that the team from Pioneer Aero have arrived in Virginia minus aircraft. While they are waiting they have been filling in their time by assisting the team at the Military Aviation Museum to prepare their inventory in preparation for next weekends Airshow.

To us back here in New Zealand it just looks like they have been having way too much fun.

Not to mention the little side trip on the way there to visit the Udvar Hazy centre.

Craig Cunha fitting the first replacement magneto for the PO-2.Martin Hedley getting some fresh air while installing the wiring to a new ELT remote. He also fitted the new ELT remote unit in the instrument panel.Enola GayKingfisher190P51109Steven Cox the second replacement magneto for the PO-2.Martin Hedley getting some fresh air while installing the wiring to a new ELT remote. He also fitted the new ELT remote unit in the instrument panel.Steven Cox and Craig Cunha inspecting the replacement magnetos for the PO-2 parked behind them.

A different perspective

Posted by on May 7, 2019 in Blog | 2 comments

A Month or so ago we had a visit from a non aviation photographer who took a series of shots around the hangar which shows the place through a different set of eyes. The focus is not so much on the technical which ours tend to be but on the everyday workings.

Please click on the link below to view and thanks to Maria for these great shots.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/MariaPanovaPhotography/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1032352166952716

Reshuffle.

Posted by on Apr 29, 2019 in Blog | 5 comments

With the P39 only days away from it’s new home and the re-assembly team ready to leave early next week the rest of the hangar is now changing shape. The wing jigs have been erected and building P40 wings now is starting in earnest with at least 2 sets needed. To accommodate this the P40-E has been moved into the “next out the door” position.

Also now starting is the fuselage for NZ3147 we hope you are looking forward to the progress on this, on completion it will be in it’s as flown in 1944 paint scheme.

To the front

To the front

Fuse jig

Fuse jig

Wing Jigs

Wing Jigs

Fuselages

Fuselages

Moving on.

Posted by on Apr 4, 2019 in Blog | 1 comment

With the P39 on the water and heading for its new home at Virginia Beach it is time for us to again concentrate on P40’s. This includes carrying out the annual servicing on Ardmore based P40 ZK-CAG  and getting her ready for the Omaka airshow.

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Farewell little Kobra.

Posted by on Mar 21, 2019 in Blog | 2 comments

The P39 has now finished test flying, been granted a non terminating C of A and is now being packed and containerised for it’s trip to the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia U.S.A.  All this has happened this week!

While we are sad to see it go we are excited at the prospect of it flying in Virginia in the near future.

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P39 fly by.

Posted by on Mar 18, 2019 in Blog | 3 comments

Sorry about the long build up but it is worth waiting for.

Pioneer Aero Team.

Posted by on Feb 28, 2019 in Blog | 3 comments

This great photo taken By Gavin Conroy before the second test flight of Jerry Yagens P39 on Wednesday is of test pilot Frank Parker and the current Pioneer Aero staff. In essence this is a photo of the people that made this happen, while acknowledging the contribution of other firms and individuals these are the people that day in day out worked through the complexities of the task and made it happen.

Thanks to you all.

Copy of P39 and team

First Flight

Posted by on Feb 26, 2019 in Blog | 4 comments

We are a bit slow out of the blocks with this so most of you already now, here is a great shot of the little Kobra on its first flight. Taken by Gavin Conroy.

First Flight

C of A

Posted by on Feb 21, 2019 in Blog | 2 comments

Well it is so close now we can taste it, now waiting on the weather to improve, Looking good for Tuesday/Wednesday next week!

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Another P39 engine run.

Posted by on Feb 18, 2019 in Blog | 0 comments

For those of you that are interested and we know there are a few here is another video taken by Tony Smith the other morning. Check some of Tony’s other great work at http://tonysmithphotography.co.nz