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Everyone knows the Wright Brothers are accredited with the first successful flight in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina on December 17, 1903. But what many do not consider is what materials were used in the construction of that very first aircraft. The Wright Brothers’ Flyer was constructed of giant spruce, fabric covered wings, and a small, custom built gasoline engine. In 1903, wood was the choice material as it was readily available, affordable, and possesses a high strength-to-weight ratio. While the very first commercially manufactured airliners were constructed of wood, the switch to a more durable material was necessary as, over time, wood proved to rot and splinter and the material failures resulted in loss of life. This catastrophic material failure prompted aircraft enthusiasts to research more reliable alternatives.
In 1915, German pilot Hugo Junkers developed the first all-metal aircraft, the J1. Manufactured entirely of steel, he found it to be tough and durable, but admittedly heavy and difficult to maneuver. Junkers used his experience with the steel J1 to develop the first civil airliners, such as the G24, which he produced from lighter and more abundant aluminium. However, it wasn’t until the mid-1930’s that metal aircraft could be cost effectively produced. In 1935, the Douglas Company launched the first commercially produced aluminum constructed aircraft, the DC-3, heralded by many as the most significant of the early aircraft. With hundreds of these DC-3 aircraft still in the air today, this is a testament to the durability and longevity of aluminum.
Fast forward to modern day, and you will find that aluminum is still widely used in the manufacture of aircraft, such as the Boeing 747. Though today’s aerospace and aircraft industries utilize additional metals such as titanium in frames and steel in landing gear, the vast majority of all metal components used in the aerospace and aircraft industry is aluminium. Though not as strong as steel, aluminium possesses an impressive strength-to-weight ratio, is the third most abundant element, naturally resists corrosion, and has proven to be more cost-effective. Proving to be more durable than wood and with a better strength-to-weight ratio than that of steel, aluminium has proven to be a staple in the world of aircraft and aerospace applications.
Aluminum alloy 2024 is an aerospace alloy which uses copper as the primary alloying element. Because of its excellent fatigue strength, 2024 aluminum is commonly utilized in parts such as wings, fuselages, and structures under tension. This aluminium alloy is also highly coveted for repair and restoration aircraft jobs because of its ability to be machined to a pristine finish. Mechanical properties of 2024 aluminum can vary greatly depending upon the temper to which the metal is purchased. Howard Precision Metals stocks 2024-T351 aluminum plate, which is a solution heat treated, naturally aged, cold-worked, and stress relieved by stretching, in thicknesses of .375” up through 6.0” thick to meet AMS 4037 spec. For high strength and good machinability, choose 2024-T351 aluminum for precision aluminum parts.
Aluminum alloy 7075 is heavily utilized in the aircraft and aerospace industry because of its superior strength, which is comparable to many steels. With zinc as the primary alloying element accounting for its superior strength-to-weight ratio, 7075 aluminum is commonly found in highly stressed aircraft parts. In fact, this aluminum alloy was completely developed in secret and, in 1940, was first used by the Imperial Japanese Navy to construct the frames of their fighter planes in WWII. It is no surprise that today this aluminum alloy is still considered a prime choice for the aircraft and aerospace industry.
At Howard Precision Metals, 7075-T651 aluminum plate is a standard stocked item. This temper, -T651, is solution heat treated, artificially aged, and stress relieved by stretching. Available in thicknesses from .25” up through 8.0” thick, you are sure to find the right size 7075-T651 plate for your application.
Another alloy of choice for the aircraft and aerospace industry is 7050 aluminum. Like 7075 aluminum, the 7050 alloy has high strength coupled with good resistance to stress corrosion. For these reasons, 7050 aluminum is often used in the aircraft and aerospace industry in construction of fuselage frames and bulkheads. When compared to alloy 7075, the 7050 aluminum alloy maintains its strength in thicker sections while retaining good stress corrosion cracking resistance and fracture toughness levels, which makes it the top choice to aircraft and aerospace applications. At Howard Precision Metals, we stock 7050-T7451 to a specification of AMS 4050. This temper, -T7451, is solution heat-treated, overaged for stabilization, and stretched for stress relief. Because of market availability, inventory levels fluctuate and stock levels vary from thickness to thickness. For any 7050-T7451 project that you may have, contact us for a quote via our website or call us at (800) 444-0311 today.
