Patent ID: 8869403

Claim:
A method for manufacturing a shell structure, the method comprising: attaching at least a first stiffener to a first skin having a first edge cut-out portion; attaching at least a second stiffener to a second skin having a second edge cut-out portion; positioning the first skin in edgewise alignment with the second skin whereby the first edge cut-out portion is at least approximately aligned with the second edge cut-out portion; and attaching a first end of a fitting to the first stiffener and the first skin and a second end of the fitting to the second stiffener and the second skin attaching a strap to a first edge region of the first skin and a second edge region of the second skin to splice the first and second skins together, wherein the strap includes an aperture at least approximately aligned with the first and second edge cut-out portions of the first and second skins.