Chapter 5 Aircraft Welding Introduction Welding can be traced back to the Bronze Age, but it was  not until the 19$^{th}$ century that welding as we know it today  was invented. Some of the first successful commercially  manufactured aircraft were constructed from welded steel  tube frames.  As the technology and manufacturing processes evolved  in the aircraft and aerospace industry, lighter metals, such  as aluminum, magnesium, and titanium, were used in their  construction. New processes and methods of welding these  metals were developed. This chapter provides some of the  basic information needed to understand and initiate the  various welding methods and processes. 