How did the Rivet Joint aircraft get it's name?
Posted by pronouncedayayron@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 12 comments
I've been searching and can't find the reason/meaning of the name Rivet Joint for this plane. It's such an odd name and really want to know how they came up with it.
MasterSoftBird@reddit
I know a pilot of one if these. It has nothing to do with its construction.
sanskami@reddit
The name "Rivet Joint" for the aircraft comes from the distinctive protruding "rivet-like" antenna on top of the fuselage. This aircraft is a signals intelligence (SIGINT) and electronic intelligence (ELINT) collection platform used by the United States Air Force.
Historical_Jump271@reddit
I don't think that's right
sanskami@reddit
Well, please do enlighten me.
Historical_Jump271@reddit
Well, your mom told me that it was literally due to the riveted construction throughout the main fuselage.
ThiefOfGod@reddit
All the structural joints are riveted together. Not strong, but cheap.
pronouncedayayron@reddit (OP)
No because there are other aircraft using the same base aircraft and they are not called rivet joint
Historical_Jump271@reddit
I'm no expert, but I think I remember watching a documentary explaining that it was called the rivet joint because of the rivets... When it was built, I don't think that was very common, or maybe not in the military at least.
Zestyclose_Pickle511@reddit
oh they definitely were using rivets! A whole force of women riveters, for instance, known as "Rosie the Riveters" built multiple aircraft with rivets. the b17 alone uses hundreds of thousands of rivets.
fuckin_y_i_k_e_s@reddit
It was the program's code name. RIVET was mostly used for intelligence programs. JOINT was just an arbitrary second word, so that people could talk about the program without describing what it actually did. Rivet Joint is one of those programs that never outgrew its code word. BIG SAFARI and PAVE HAWK are other examples.
Mayansok@reddit
Think it is because of the radar dome at the ‘top’ of the body of the aircraft - it looks like a rivet…
Mayansok@reddit
Err I meant comms dome not radar!