Please see the most recent updates in the "Where did the .com name go?" thread. Posts number 16 and 17.
Please see this thread for updates. Update Thread
SOH ADMINISTRATIONI only know of pilot0, in the cfs3 export dll I never saw a reference for gunner0. I always insert a model for this in the external for the mesh. Same way I do for the copilots. If I am wrong this is new to me.

yeah, you can create another pilot0 dummy and rotate the node as you describe. I usually do that unless the figure doesn't fit . In that case I add a 3d gunner figure as Ted describes.