Modern commercial aircraft still use rivets for assembly because they’re more suitable for the aluminum panels that planes use.
You may not have consciously thought about it, but the way we build cars is very different from the way we build airplanes. Your sedan or SUV has a smooth, unibody exterior because its individual components are welded together to create an integrated structure that is strong and safe. However, if you take a close look at popular passenger jets like the Airbus A320 on your next flight, you’ll notice that the panels that make up the fuselage and wings are joined together with rivets, rather than welded. It’s a fascinating combination, considering that the first rivets were designed by ancient Egyptians more than 5,000 years ago, while humans only took to the skies a little over 120 years ago.
Welding is used in other areas of many types of aircraft, though, including wing mounts and engine pylons.
