Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enforcing contours onto parts of an aircraft. One embodiment is a method for enforcing a contour onto aircraft parts. The method includes removably attaching segmented ring details to aircraft skin details, attaching stringers to skin details to create skin assemblies, positioning skin assemblies at a support structure defining a contour, and fastening frames to the skin assemblies to create a panel. The method also includes removably installing a spreader section onto the panel to complete assembly of a brace prior to removal of the panel, transporting the panel while the brace enforces the contour, attaching the brace to braces for other panels to form a barrel section of a fuselage for an aircraft while the brace enforces the contour, and removing the brace from the barrel section after the barrel section has been formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enforcing contours onto parts of an aircraft. One embodiment is a method for enforcing a contour onto aircraft parts. The method includes removaby attaching segmented ring details to aircraft skin details, attaching stringers to skin details to create skin assemblies, positioning skin assemblies at a support structure defining a contour, and fastening frames to the skin assemblies to create a panel. The method also includes removably installing a spreader section onto the panel to complete assembly of a brace prior to removal of the panel, transporting the panel while the brace enforces the contour, attaching the brace to braces for other panels to form a barrel section of a fuselage for an aircraft while the brace enforces the contour, and removing the brace from the barrel section after the barrel section has been formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enforcing contours onto parts of an aircraft. One embodiment is a method for enforcing a contour onto aircraft parts. The method includes removably attaching segmented ring details to aircraft skin details, attaching stringers to skin details to create skin assemblies, positioning skin assemblies at a support structure defining a contour, and fastening frames to the skin assemblies to create a panel. The method also includes removably installing a spreader section onto the panel to complete assembly of a brace prior to removal of the panel, transporting the panel while the brace enforces the contour, attaching the brace to braces for other panels to form a barrel section of a fuselage for an aircraft while the brace enforces the contour, and removing the brace from the barrel section after the barrel section has been formed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enforcing contours onto parts of an aircraft. One embodiment is a method for enforcing a contour onto aircraft parts. The method includes removably attaching segmented ring details to aircraft skin details, attaching stringers to skin details to create skin assemblies, positioning skin assemblies at a support structure defining a contour, and fastening frames to the skin assemblies to create a panel. The method also includes removably installing a spreader section onto the panel to complete assembly of a brace prior to removal of the panel, transporting the panel while the brace enforces the contour, attaching the brace to braces for other panels to form a barrel section of a fuselage for an aircraft while the brace enforces the contour, and removing the brace from the barrel section after the barrel section has been formed.

Abstract: A water heater includes: an inner tank having an internal cavity configured to hold water therein; a heating device residing in the internal cavity; an outer lining that surrounds the inner tank, a gap being present between the outer lining and the inner tank; and insulation material located in the gap. The gap is under a vacuum of between about 5 and 200 microns. In this configuration, the water heater can have an R value in excess of 500. With this level of insulative capacity, water stored in the water heater may lose only 2° F. or less over a 24 hour period, thereby substantially outperforming conventional water heaters.