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September 5, 2001 Day 72, 539.5 hours While the aircraft was still upside-down, the main landing gear doors were attached and fitted exactly to the wing countour. This involved fabricating brackets, and bending them to the exact shape required to merge the door with the wing when the gear is retracted. |
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September 7, 2001 Day 74, 555 hours This is what the gear door looks like from the side, with the gear partially retracted. The two-point attachment is designed to allow the door to flex with the landing gear leg, which acts like a spring to absorb landing forces. |
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September 10, 2001 Day 75, 563.5 hours This is the aileron, which has been attached to the trailing edge of the main wing and aligned. The aileron provides roll control; it is the control used to turn the aircraft. |
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September 13, 2001 Day 78, 589 hours The rudder is attached to the trailing edge of the winglets (this aircraft has no "tail" in the usual sense). This surface provides yaw control and turn coordination. Also, unlike most aircraft designs, the rudders can be deflected in opposite directions to act as a speed brake. |