How aluminum airplanes are built...

[Ace-Garageguy]

This is a well produced video documentary on aluminum aircraft construction. Though it's specifically about the Lear, every aluminum airplane, including all the fighters and bombers from WW II, and post-war Cessnas and Pipers, has been built pretty much the same way. This may be of interest to car-guys, because, though the aerodynamic principles affecting airplanes and cars are identical, the build methods are very different.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2018 by Ace-Garageguy

[oldnslow]

Wow !

[Khils]

Awesome video Bill!!

Knew those jets were incredible. ......but had NO idea...HOW incredible!

[Xingu]

Everything about that aircraft was lighter than I thought it would be. I assumed the engines were much heavier than what they are.

[Ace-Garageguy]

17 minutes ago, Xingu said:

Everything about that aircraft was lighter than I thought it would be. I assumed the engines were much heavier than what they are.

Yes, these engines are in the 700 pound range, which is about as much as an old Jag inline six. There's not much in the way of heavy parts considering the power they produce. On the other hand, something like an old Merlin V-12 weighs around 1500 pounds, and the part of the structure that carries it and feeds the loads into the structure usually has to be heavier too. For further comparison, the big radial engines on something like a B-17 weighed around 800 pounds each.

There are also different ways to accomplish some things that differ from what's shown here. For instance, some aircraft have used wing spar sections or other structural parts machined from billet, and the F-22, among others, uses fuselage bulkheads machined from billet. Extrusions can also be used, and some aircraft employ metal honeycomb sections as well. Some commercial airliners use wing-skins that are chemically machined...but in general terms, all aluminum aircraft use similar construction to what's shown here, and if you were to walk through any aluminum aircraft factory, it would look much like what you see in the video.

[Dave Ambrose]

Cool. Thanks for posting it. 

[High octane]

So I guess they didn't make my aluminum bodied pick up truck that way. Interesting video, and thanks!

[Lizard Racing]

Really good video!

I was 34 years in Aerospace and I was continually amazed how complex an airplane is.

My first program was the Cessna 425. I couldn't believe it weighed the same as a full size car.

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Glad some of you guys are enjoying it. 

[Kit Basher]

That's a great video. I'm going to look for more like this, much better than watching junk TV.  I enjoy seeing how anything is made, and it's great to see 21st century manufacturing in the good ol' USA.  Thanks for posting it, Bill.