Patent ID: 7967240

Claim:
A nacelle assembly, comprising: an inlet of a nacelle comprising a structural assembly, wherein the structural assembly comprises: a skin member; a support member joined to the skin member by first and second annular joints such that the skin member and the support member define an annular space, the first joint extending annularly proximate to an outer periphery of the annular space and the second joint extending annularly proximate to an inner periphery of the annular space, wherein the support member extends in a substantially direct configuration between opposing portions of the skin member such that the annular space is defined between the skin and support members and between the first and second joints, and the support member defines a plurality of apertures extending through the support member to the annular space; and a film comprised of a sol-gel material disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the skin member; and a remainder of the nacelle bonded to the inlet, wherein the film of the sol-gel material is disposed on that portion of the inlet that is bonded to the remainder of the nacelle in order to join the inlet and the remainder of the nacelle.