Originally Posted by
Ketzer
Just for grins and fun reading, Google (or DuckDuckGo if you're mad at Google) FAA.Gov AC 43.13-1A. It's a handbook (Advisory Circular 43.13-1A, Acceptable Methods, Techniques, and Practices--Aircraft Inspection and Repair) on how to do major alterations and repairs on aircraft. The handbook has been around since, I think, the 1950s, so it includes wood and fabric repairs, as well as fiberglass, plastics, and metal. It was updated not too long ago (maybe 15 or 20 years?) to include composites, avionics and human factors. In the old days, during the practical portion of the exam to get an A&P license, you might have to build a rib or made a patch, along with a bunch of other stuff. But the "Dutchman Patch" pictures were great and cut to the chase.