Originally Posted by
Mr Oleo Strut
You're quite right. Milled from solid they were - but ally, not iron or steel. They took us down to Weybridge to see VC10 production and I well remember the massive German computer-controlled milling machines carving out huge fuselage panels including doors and windows. It was most impressive as were the mountains of shiny and curly swarf. I remember the billets of ally were several inches thick. It was quite a sight and quite a shock for us Handley Page lads used to more conventional construction methods.
Did a school visit to Weybridge in about '65 and saw the milling machines. The wing panels were also produced from ally sheet about 3 inches thick and were then shot blasted to curve them into the correct aerofoil section. A small offcut about 10 inches square 'happened' to find itself into the briefcase of one of my mates and it was a school trophy for many years.