US 11,807,397 B2
Systems and methods for assembling containerized aircraft
Joseph D. Anderson, Seattle, WA (US); Don Russell, Arlington, WA (US); Matthew B. Moore, Edmonds, WA (US); Jason Warner, Granite Falls, WA (US); David Jon Herman, Monroe, WA (US); Patrick B. Stone, Monroe, WA (US); and Michael David Collier, Sr., Everett, WA (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/724,278.
Application 17/724,278 is a division of application No. 16/735,315, filed on Jan. 6, 2020, granted, now 11,352,149.
Prior Publication US 2022/0242591 A1, Aug. 4, 2022
Int. Cl. B64F 5/10 (2017.01); B64F 5/50 (2017.01)
CPC B64F 5/10 (2017.01) [B64F 5/50 (2017.01); B64C 2211/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for assembling a containerized aircraft as a complete aircraft, the system comprising:
a plurality of aircraft components that are configured to be loaded into a shipping arrangement, and wherein each aircraft component of the plurality of aircraft components is configured to be unloaded from the shipping arrangement and attached to at least one other aircraft component of the plurality of aircraft components to assemble the plurality of aircraft components into the complete aircraft;
one or more shipping fixtures configured to support the plurality of aircraft components in the shipping arrangement; and
tooling configured to facilitate assembly of the plurality of aircraft components into the complete aircraft, wherein the tooling is configured to be loaded into and unloaded from the shipping arrangement, wherein the tooling comprises one or more aircraft component positioning structures, wherein each aircraft component positioning structure of the one or more aircraft component positioning structures is configured to position at least one respective aircraft component of the plurality of aircraft components in at least one corresponding aircraft component installation position during assembly of the complete aircraft, wherein the tooling is configured to facilitate the assembly of the plurality of aircraft components into the complete aircraft in a plurality of assembly environments, wherein each assembly environment of the plurality of assembly environments comprises an assembly surface, and wherein the assembly surface comprises one or more of an uneven assembly surface, a dirt assembly surface, a grassy assembly surface, an unfinished assembly surface, and a wet assembly surface.