It has been a couple of months since our last report on progress with the restoration of Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver Bu.83393 at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, but a lot has happened in the interim. As you will see from the video featuring the museum’s Brandon Deuel, the restoration team recently trial-fitted the windscreen, canopy sections and turtle decking to the upper fuselage, which marked a significant project milestone. They were able to add the canopy hand cranks during this period to ensure their proper operability. In recent days, the team has removed the turtle decking and moveable canopy sections to allow further work on cockpit control systems. One of the aircraft’s engineers, Jay Bosch, has been working on the Helldiver’s electrical systems, with the main gear bay hydraulic and electrical work now approaching completion. Presently, they are in the process of installing the hydraulic actuators which operate the dive bomber’s flaps.
Up next, the restoration team will be focusing on further work in the cockpit and fuel bay. Be sure to check out this video which covers some of the latest restoration progress with the Helldiver!
Many thanks to Anna McCosh and the rest of the team at the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum for providing the images and details for this latest update on the Helldiver project!
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Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.
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