Budd BB-1 Pioneer Aircraft: Through Time

Budd BB-1 Pioneer

The Budd BB-1 Pioneer in its permanent placement on 20th Street outside The Franklin Institute, prior to removal for restoration in 2016. The aircraft has been on display in this location for 80 years, the longest unchanged exhibition of any airplane in history. The only Franklin Institute artifact that has been on display longer than the Budd BB-1 Pioneer is the Baldwin 60,000 locomotive, located in the Institute's Train Factory exhibit.

Learn more about the history of Budd BB-1 Pioneer. | Watch a video about the refurbishment of the Budd BB-1 Pioneer.

Budd Pioneer Construction

Photographs of the Budd BB-1 Pioneer during construction by the Edward G. Budd Manufacturing Company. Established in 1912 and based in Philadelphia, the Budd Company made parts for the rail and automobile industry. In the 1920s, the company had ambitions to enter the aviation industry and began construction of a stainless steel aircraft using their signature shot welding technique, which was intended to make a light and durable plane. The Pioneer was the world's first plane built using this technique, and was also the first stainless steel airplane.

Budd Pioneer Hangar

The Budd BB-1 Pioneer was completed around 1930. The design is based on the Savoia-Marchetti S.56, an Italian biplane capable of landing and taking off on both land and water. The Pioneer could seat one pilot and two passengers. The lower wings are attached to the hull, and the upper wings are held above the hull with a single radial engine in the middle.

Pioneer at the Budd Airfield

The Budd BB-1 Pioneer completed its first test flight in 1932 at the Budd Factory Airfield Northwest of Philadelphia. Testing was extensive and involved aerial maneuvers including rolls and dives. It also made landings and takeoffs on both land and water. The Pioneer would go on to make multiple flights, first in the United States and later in Europe. In the four years that it flew, it logged 1,700 flight hours. The plane flew over the Alps twice in a round-trip voyage from France to Italy and back.

Budd Pioneer Arrival

The Budd BB-1 Pioneer was lifted into place in front of The Franklin Institute in 1935. The Pioneer was considered an important acquisition for the Institute, due to its unique design and the use stainless steel as a feasible component in aircraft manufacturing. Another Philadelphia landmark, the Parkway Central Library branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, can be seen in the background of this photo.  Established in 1891, the Free Library is the thirteenth largest public library system in the United States.

Budd Pioneer Renovation 1969

The Pioneer was removed for maintenance in May of 1969.  Because the aircraft’s frame is made from stainless steel, the Pioneer endured decades of  weather changes, including snow, sleet, and rain, but eventually maintenance was required. In 1969, the Budd Company was still in business, and offered to arrange for the plane’s restoration. They moved the plane to their factory, where restoration work was supervised by John C. Whitesell—the same Budd employee who had overseen its original construction. Whitesell made the journey north from his retirement home in Florida to help the Budd team restore the Pioneer to its original glory.

Budd Pioneer Relocation

A collection of photographs of the Budd BB-1 Pioneer being moved in 1990. The relocation was minor, shifting the Pioneer several feet in front of The Franklin Institute. Despite the short distance of that move, it was still a large-scale effort that required careful attention to ensure the security of the aircraft. It took several days to complete the move.

Budd Pioneer Renovation 2016

The historic Budd BB-1 Pioneer is returning. If you’re in the area, stop by The Franklin Institute tomorrow to see it.

The Pioneer was removed a second time for maintenance in 2016. The takedown process was a careful one that took place over 3 days, requiring artifact handlers and a crane to lift this 1,750 pound plane onto a flatbed for transport. Upon inspection, the maintenance required included clearing residue and polishing the exterior, replacing spars that were completely broken in multiple areas, and straightening out the warped wings.