Aircraft structures are built up of previously constructed members comprising a skin part and stress‐carrying structure, the structures being completed by interattaching the members in a surface containing the neutral axis of the completed structure. In one form, a wing is built up of components comprising spar parts 1A, 3A, ribs 4A, 4, 4B, and metal skin 5. The appropriate spars are butt‐jointed together and the structure is completed by a nose fairing 8 which may be secured by wire pins 9. A tank 10 may be housed in the wing. In a modification, the skin is supported by a corrugated sheet attached to a capping strip secured to brackets which are connected to the lap‐jointed spars. In a further modification, the spar is formed by securing flange portions, which may be built up of laminations, to a lightened web. A wing flap may be hinged to the trailing edge of the wing. A fuselage may similarly be built up of components 71, 72 butt jointed as at 73. In a modification of this form, a bomb 88 may be housed in the fuselage, hinged doors 89 being provided. A tapering fuselage may be built from blanks of different dimensions pressed to shape by a single set of tools. The fuselage may be built up of quadrantal portions, and decks and floorings may be incorporated in the stiffening members. A seaplane float may be constructed in a similar manner.
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Apr 1, 1972
J G Vos 
Open Access
