a spot where two pieces of metal overlap and are joined with rivets and adhesives to form an airtight and watertight seal that allows the cabin to be pressurized. Each time any aircraft ...

Now it’s a mess the once-smooth metal ... skin rough and spotted, holes here and there. The fuselage is in two pieces. And the wings have been taken off, which, for a high-performance jet ...

Both are made of large, plate-like parts connected with fasteners and rivets, and over time, cracks develop around the fastener holes due to metal fatigue. "Aircraft lifespan is established by the ...