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Old 8th November 2003 | 15:55
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Genghis the Engineer
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You don't.

The aircraft is made in a number of sub-assemblies, usually in different places (often different countries), the largest of which initially is a single nacelle or a fuselage section perhaps 30ft long.

Then all these pieces are brought together into an assembly site (in the good old days this was called a " 'recting shop " but nowadays is called something mundane like "assembly hall" ).


The other point is that unlike a ship, which is built up from the keel, an aeroplane (or it's parts) are generally built up within "jigs", which are large mechanical constructions within which the shape of the aeroplane parts are built up - you can see this on the photo below, where jigs used for wing-to-fuselage assembly and tail-fitment assembly are still fitted.

One the full aircraft shell is together, systems are fitted, then seats, trim, instruments, and finally engines.

Ultimately, once an aircraft is designed, the jigs actually become more important to the manufacturer than the drawings.

G

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