Wood and Fabric Airplane Assembly

Documentary showing the start-to-finish building of airplanes. Wood was the primary construction material. This circa 1917 film details the building process from tree cutting to wood seasoning process. The video reveals assembly line methods, parts construction, hand-made techniques, and tools.

The documentary gives the viewer insights into how planes were made, including cloth covering, sealing, stress testing, engine mounting, wing assembly, and shipping methods.

The idea of being shot at while flying a wooden framed plane with thin cloth covering is a sobering thought. No armor in these flying machines.

One of the most interesting aspects of the film has to do with the construction of propellers, how they were laminated, and finished to a fine balance.

I also noticed the almost complete absence of safety equipment by the production workers, leaving me to wonder about the injury rates from such work; to say nothing of the fumes inhaled from working with glues and similar materials.

Mass production of aircraft: amazing

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