Jim with a model of Pioneer III... note a gull wing!

September 25, 2005. Jim has decided to finish the Pioneer III by himself. Currently it sits in an unheated hanger and unfortunately it looks like it will not be completed any time soon. This is rather a sad turn of events. Jim was very bothered by the team's insistence on his changing the cockpit area. It was a death trap as designed since the instrument panel was rigid and any attempt to extract ones legs in an emergency would have been hopeless. Jim reluctantly redesigned the cockpit using the front hinging canopy design that Mat had built for the Pioneer IId. Jim felt quite bitter towards the rest of us after this episode, so unfortunately this is the fate of the Pioneer III.

November 11, 2004. We have done some basic base coat work on the Pioneer III but most important we have decided on a front hinging canopy which is now designed and being built.We have also moved the release mechanism which would allow for better exiting in case of an emergency.Jim Built a new canopy box but unfortunately the first canopy we tried managed to have bubbles in it because of the heat being too high. The second attempt used a lesser quality plexiglass and that just did not work. So we will order a new sheet of better quality plexiglass.

	So there is it .... the front hinging canopy is in the works, waiting for a new sheet of plexiglass.

May 3, 2004

	Jim fitting the wheel faring mold

Mar 1, 2004

	The PIII wing being sanded preparing for paint and covering Mar 1, 2004

Jan 25, 2004. Thanks to Mike Couts we have pictures of the progress on the PIII

	The canopy frame beside the III fuselage
	Jim and the Canopy Frame fitted
	The rudder pedals have been finished and are functional,
	The seat pan is fitted.

October 15, 2003. The fin and rudder are now permanently attached to the fuselage!

	The fin is finally glued in place!
	Looking good... now to finish the hinges on the ailerons!

August 9, 2003. Jim finally came home from Ireland....and broke open the rudder mold.

	Jim holding the rudder after curing over the last month.

July 14, 2003. the rudeer is buttoned up in the mold.

	The ribs are coated with Cabosil and Epoxy resin then the top of the mold which has the top surface of the rudder inside is placed on top.
	The rudder mold is clamped shut.... and in about a week of curing it will be taken apart.

July 7, 2003 . More progress... yes the rudder is being made!

	Jim working on the rudder mold.
	Just about ready for the top half of the mold.

June 27, 2003. While the progress on these pages may seem slow, Jim is actually at this project daily. He has just recently been working on ailerons.

	Jim and Wes Metz hot wiring a section of the top of the aileron.
	The foam laid together to make a plug
	The Plug is covered with shrink wrap.Note the hair dryer in Jim's hand.
	Applying the fiberglass and epoxy resin to make the mold. The red is just a pigment.

May 02, 2003. Thanks to Skip Hockman for his generous donation towards the PIII project. Jim has been putting all of his time on this project to get it completed and any donations go directly to him for the work he has been doing.

April 18, 2003. Jim was very busy back in March and to appreciate the work he did note the photo below. Mating the wings to the fuselage is a very important step that allowed him to finalize the position of the carry through which was shown in the April 15, 2003 posting. Will it fly this year???... keep your donations coming!

	Certainly looks like a glider now!
Sure fills the shop! I woudl like to see this fly in 2003 but we need your financial support to make it happen. Thanks

April 15, 2003. Yes there is continual progress. The wings are quite complete.. now with completed Elevators. The fuselage controls are all working and jim is working on getting the whole thing assembled in the shop soon.

	The carry through frame is in and all the controls work..... even rudder pedals installed.
	The Pioneer III wings are ready for the ailerons!... the Elevators are done.

January 10, 2003. Yes there has been progress! Jim has been working away at the aileron and Elevator molds!

	Jim working on the aileron molds Jan 08,2003

December 20, 2002. Jim has been constantly working on the Pioneer III... yes the spoilers are installed and working! Work has al;so been started on the aileron and elevator molds

	Muggs looks suspiciously on as the spoilers are extended.
	The elevator plug being made from hot wired foam.

November 08, 2002

	Jim working on the spoilers. this has been a long process.. making hte molds, casting the parts and making it all fit!
	And after Jims hard work on the older style taper pin/carry through you will see a redesign of the wing attachments.

August 16, 2002

	Putting the finishing touches on the rear spar. Both wings are now done ready for spoiler boxes.

August 2, 2002.The wings are coming along!

Jim working on the rear spar

July 23, 2002. Jim has come back from a three week vacation in Ireland so work has been restarted.

	Jim Gluing in ribs and rear spar

May 23, 2002. The wingtips are installed!

	The wingtip epoxied on

April 24, 2002. We have Wingtips!!

	A Pioneer III wingtip fresh from the mold!
	The two wingtip molds together
	The two wingtip molds getting started!

March 28, 2002. Still working on the wing tips

	Jim working on the wing tip joggles

March 20, 2002

	Jim has worked on the wingtips over the last month...he is making the joggles so they can be laid up in one layup.

Feb 2, 2002. The left dtube is out of the mold and the wingtip molds are complete.

	Jim Marske and Bob Michner look over the new left dtube just released from the mold.

Jan 19, 2002. Thank to the volunteers who helped with the left wing dtube! Todd, Patrick Edwards, Mike Couts, Steve Lloyd.

	The shop layout for the Dtube layup.
	Inserting the spar, a very delicate operation!
	The Spar inserted in the dtube mold.
	A moment of rest!
	Finally 5 hours later, all together!
	The root skins!
	Jim doing the last minute checking!

Jan 9, 2002. Jim has been working on the wings.

	The roughed out wingtip plug beside the wing dtube mold.
	Jim cutting the foam for the wingtips
	Root section of the Pioneer III

Dec 8, 2001. Finally we made up a Dtube for the Pioneer III. thanks to volunteers Serge Kraus, Pat Edwards, Mike Couts, Phil Pepin and Steve Lloyd.

	Phil Pepin and Steve Lloyd pre-preging the 10 oz cloth.This was aided by a preheated table.... a heating blanket under the hardboard overlay.
	The first layer of prepreg 10 oz laid.
	Finishing the second layer of 10 oz cloth. Serge Kraus, Jim Marske, Mike Couts, Pat Edwards, and Steve Lloyd.
	A distraction from the dtube making.. Steve Lloyds electric plane and Mike waiting anxiously to give it a spin!.. oh oh ....another must have toy!!
	Pat Edwards, Serge Kraus and Jim Marske setting the clamping devices.

November 11, 2001

	Jim epoxying the nose ribs on the P3 spars.

Past web Pioneer III developement from oct 1999 to oct 27th 2001

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