How It Works: Aircraft Flush Riveting

For possible projection from the outer  surface of the airplane everything that  would induce turbulence with its  attendant drag must be reduced to a  minimum the use of a rivet whose head is  flush with the surface being riveted eliminates the drag of the ordinary  rivet head and thus aids in  accomplishing our higher speeds.

The choice of method to be used in flush  riveting is based on the thickness of  the sheet next to the manufactured head  let's assume we're driving a rivet  in diameter with a  degree  counter sunk head probably the best  production method involves sheets of   thickness or greater we start  with the assembly of the sheets drilling  the correct sized hole for the given.

Rivet we're using a  rivet so we  drill a number  hole then countersink  using a special countersinking tool with  a  flute cutter and with a  degree  cutting angle and number  pilot unless  specific approval has been obtained from  the stress engineer the countersinking  should not go through the first sheet if  sheets are properly clamped during  countersinking it is not necessary to  disassemble them for borrowing which is  a costly operation next we insert the  rivet.