Bar construction – september, 2023
The supplies and components have swiftly started to flow into the shop floor and production has begun on the bar construction. All the complex components and shapes are being uniformly made in-house to achieve the best fit and finish as possible. Utilizing the CAD models developed, the structures and interiors team have been able to build custom forms to make the curved honeycomb panels and sheet metal structure.
Bataan departure day – kuao
Control column boots, main cabin seats and forward cabin seat. – february, 2023
Original control column boots have been brought to Aurora to be reproduced in the dark grey fight deck leather. Main cabin seats are getting all their final trim installed and are on the fast track to completion less their seat bases. Forward cabin seat has its prototype armrest and arm cushion installed for approval.
Fwd Cabin Seats and bar cabinet assembly. – January, 2023
Forward cabin seats have been upholstered and the prototype armrest is in its final mock up stages. A mock armrest cushion has been test fit, awaiting adjustments and a final prototype to be built. Armrest detail is cut and ready for its bonded backer to retain flatness and detail. The credenza is standing-by, patiently waiting for the aircraft for final fitment before being upholstered. The bar drawer boxes have started their assembly process and as hardware/parts arrive in Aurora, progress continues.
fwd cabin seat upholstery, armrest component plating, conference room credenza, and main cabin seat finishing touches. – november/december, 2022
The conference room credenza structure is complete, awaiting its upholstery and trim installation. FWD cabin seats have been upholstered and awaiting their armrests. Main cabin seat trim components have been through the plating process and have arrived back in Aurora to be installed in their corresponding seats. Bar cabinet structure has been started and will continue as components become available from the manufacturer.
Galley material concept, Seat bases and credenza assembly. – October 2022
An ideation mockup of the galley top and finish face has been created for a visual representation. Seat bases are in final fabrication and are being upholstered. Conference room credenza is in final fitment and countertop base is being installed.
Conference Room Credenza, seat buildup and cabin seating mockup. – september-October 2022
All seat dress covers aft of the FWD cabin are being finished. Arm rest dress covers are undergoing their final construction before assembly. Conference room credenza has gone into assembly. Custom curved honeycomb panels have been made to achieve the curved drawer faces. Main cabin floor has been laid out and seats with tracks temporarily installed for full cabin seat mockup for final fit checks and continuity inspections.
Interior production – 08/02/2022
The adjustable armrests have been fitted and covered. The forward cabin seat armrest prototype is nearing completion. The credenza components have been CNC cut and are ready for final fit and trim. Progress continues on dress cover production.
Interior production – 04/04/2022
Production of the main cabin seat dress covers continue. Armrest components for all passenger seats have arrived, and armrests are being assembled.
INTERIOR PRODUCTION – 03/16/2022
The Interiors team has started production of the final dress covers for the main cabin seats.
AURORA – INTERIOR PRODUCTION – 03/01/2022
The conference area has been mocked up. Conference area seats are in development and waiting on armrest components.
Sound attenuation – 02/24/2022
The installation of the first stage of thermal and acoustic attenuation systems is wrapping up today down in Chino. The updated images show the significant progress made in this field over the last several weeks. Sound attenuation materials have been added to the flight deck, forward and main cabins, aft cabin and now the baggage “pits”.
AURORA, OREGON – INTERIOR PRODUCTION – 02/23/2022
Aerometal has withdrawn its teams from the Chino location to now focus on interior component production at the Aurora, Oregon facility. Recent weeks have seen significant progress made in the areas of seat cushion construction, dress cover design refinement as well as design finalization for the lingering aspects of the master cabin design / layout plan. The production prototype of the seat arm construct has also been perfected and the vendor has CNC cut the full inventory of arm components for all cabin seats. The 48 hides of leather for all seats have also been received, inventoried and placed into storage. The interior teams are now embarking on the task of cutting and stitching the final production prototype seat dress cover (in the chosen leather) to ensure the quality of the final product.
Connie Passenger seats – 12/15/2021
Fabrication of the seat foam of all passenger seats is now complete.
interior progress – 10/28/2021
A few new updates. Some major developments to report: the Aerometal crew is within a few days of completing its Chino based tasks on the Constellation interior project. Our crew has started to disassemble and remove the new floors and bulkheads to allow the “fighters” team to compete the installation and rigging of all controls. We have also spent the last few days taking datum measurements of the new interior bulkheads as the next phase is the manufacture of the 4 major pocket door assemblies that will be used in the cabin. Our teams will be moving all our equipment and tooling back up to Oregon at the end of next week once we have completed the removal and preservation of the new structural elements.
Meanwhile – in Aurora, the interiors team has completed the first production seat. The build up of this seat has been accomplished to allow full visualization with the chosen materials, styles and textures. We hope to be able to meet / review with you guys this build up in the not too distant future.
iNTERIOR pROGRESS – 9/23/2021
fwd
Interior Progress – 8/5/2021
Interior Progress – 5/28/2021
Interior Progress – 5/1/2021
Interior Progress 3/23/2021
Interior Progress – 3/2/2021
Interior Progress – 2/16/2021
Ideation boards – 1/28/2021
Ideation boards are complete. They are ready to ship.
Crew Seats – 1/28/2021
Completed crew seats. Now departing Oregon on their way to Chino.
Interior Progress – 1/25/2021
Completion of sub floor structure install for air stair:
Interior Progress – 1/20/2021
Just checking in with more updates: – “visual” progress has been lacking over the last week as the crew has been checking, cleaning and replacing 100’s of original floor system fasteners in the existing structure. thankfully this project is now wrapped up. This last few days we have been able to move ahead with the cutting and shaping of the next batch of cabin floor panel – this time in the main cabin area.
Interior Progress – 1/7/2021
This new floor board material is an aluminum composite honeycomb material.
It is 1 inch think (as you can see.)
This material is the foundation of our engineered floor system and the seat rails will be mounted directly to the honeycomb using steel inserts similar to the one shown in the images.
The steel Inserts are installed by us in several dozen locations during the fabrication process.
This material is actually very similar to the existing floor – just a more modern version of it (with obtainable engineering “allowable” data!)
Interior Progress – 1/6/2021
I hope this finds you all doing well in this New Year!
Our crew started down at the Connie again on Monday.
I have the following updates for the end of day 3 (second crew rotation.)
Interior PROGRESS – 12/19/2020
Updates for the end of day 13 (and end of the first work period.)
- The floors in the forward fuselage are complete with all fasteners installed.
- The prototype seats are now at the Connie and can be seen in a couple of these pictures.
- Also notice the an aluminum “drill jig” that has been made (CNC milled) to allow the easy location of fasteners for the actual seat tracks associated with each seat.
- This will be the next phase of the project – drilling and locating seat tracks.
- Our new floor boards have been removed and packaged for storage and a new wooden floor has been installed in their place.
- The crew has now left the Connie and are on their way home to Oregon today.
- The crew will return on the morning of January 4th to start the next 2 week work period.
- We will remain in touch as the new year arrives. More updates to follow.
- Have a good Christmas Everybody.
Interior Progress – 12/15/2020
Updates for the end of day 9:
- All floor boards are cut and trimmed / fitted in the forward fuselage (forward of the conference group.)
- Floor boards are now subject to installation of many retaining fasteners. These fastener locations are bonded into the boards in multiple locations.
- All materials for the sub floor structural modifications required to mount the air stair have arrived in Chino. One of the Aerometal crew members will start the fabrication of air stair mounting structure tomorrow AM.
- We are ahead of schedule at this point in the work period.
- I’ll remain In touch with further updates.
Work to replace original nut plates in select locations (note new wooden “sacrificial” utility floor boards in background. These wooded boards are made and laid down upon completion of new composite floor boards. This utility floor is laid down in place of the composite floor, which is packaged, protected and moved to secure storage
Interior Progress – 12/11/2021
End of day 5:
- The majority of the new aluminum honeycomb floor boards are now cut.
- These floor boards are cut to size only at this stage (lots of “visual” progress.)
- The next few days will be spent installing the fastener location inserts (of which there are several 100!)
- I am headed home but leave a crew of three guys working until the end of next week.
- I will remain in touch and will continue to supply updates.
Interior Progress – 12/9/2020
End of day three updates:
- All fasteners are installed in the fwd fuselage substructure.
- All patterns have been made for the forward fuselage floor panels
- First floor board is cut and trimmed for the forward fuselage
- Work area is fully established inside the fuselage – all packages from Oregon have been received.
Tomorrow should see two more floor boards cut and trimmed.
Interior Progress – 12/7/2020
End of day one in Chino.
A good first day:
- Got the crew down here after an early start in Oregon.
- Got the work area set up and original floors back down.
- Receive and inspected the Air Stair.
- Made a couple of trips out to acquire supplies and equipment.
- Our shipments of hardware and tools from Oregon is running late (should have been delivered this AM but has been promised for tomorrow.)
- I’ll continue to keep you up to date as work progresses this week.
NOVEMBER 25, 2020
NOVEMBER 4, 2020
October 5, 2020
Forward Cabin Seat Tack and Floor Board Engineering
Seat Mock-up
Seat Design
January 26, 2020
Seat Design Rev 1
October 10, 2019
CAD model of passenger cabin is complete except for the wing box area. We have created this from the data we collected on the last two trips to Chino. We will use this CAD model as the foundation for the final design, engineering and installation of the interior.
September 10, 2019
Collection Final measurements to complete cabin CAD model.
July 18, 2019
Specifying various seats for different locations in the cabin.
STATUS:
- 7/18: Identified seats for the passenger cabin.
- 7/17: Measured forward subfloor structure for seat mount planning. Measured structure around and under the main cabin door for airstair planning.
- 7/11/19: Presented revised layout rendering V7.0
- 6/19/19: Meeting Chino; Presented foam mockup of the interior.
- 5/8/19: Meeting Seattle; Discussed the budget and “burn rate.”
- 3/21/19: Initial CAD renderings delivered
- 12/: Meeting Portland; Determined flight deck color scheme, agreed to draw aircraft cabin in CAD
- 9/3/18: Met with all stakeholders at Chino, presented layout V3.1. Added exterior paint to work-scope.
- 8/17/18: Submitted revised cabin layout proposal (V3.0).
- 8/14/18: Working with aircraft shower specialists to develop show installation and pricing.
- 8/7/18: Identifying a seat supplier to accurately determine cabin clearances.
- 8/2/18: Meeting with Rod Lewis: Discussed cabin layout. Decided to develop proposal A with the addition of:
- A few additional seats if possible without crowding the space. Ideally 25-26 passenger seats.
- Galley to include: ice drawers, refrigerator, oven, and microwave.
- The interior is to be modern but reminiscent of Art Deco styling with a slightly military look in some area, without going overboard.
- Discussed the option of having the conference room MacArther or Bataan themed.
- Discussed the possibility of having a small museum or cabinet of curiosities in the foyer area depicting the aircraft history.
- As many seats as possible are to be berthable.
- 6/12/18: Waiting on customer meeting in order to provide a cost estimate.
- 6/11/18: Submitted revised cabin layout proposal.
- 6/1/18: Submitted initial cabin layout proposals.
- 5/21/18: Visited aircraft in Chino, surveyed cabin.
