Interior module installation in an aircraft fuselage

An aircraft fuselage comprising:

• a plurality of support structures;
• a plurality of tie rods having fixed ends secured to the support structures;
• and
• a plurality of tie rod holding fixtures, each fixture clamped to a set of tie rods that includes a first vertical tie rod, a second vertical tie rod, and a lateral tie rod, so that each holding fixture holds a predetermined spacing and orientation of free ends of the first vertical tie rod, the second vertical tie rod, and the lateral tie rod of the set of tie rods, each tie rod holding fixture including:
• a collapsible fixture body;
• first and second clasps at respective ends of the fixture body, the first and second clasps configured to grasp the first and second vertical tie rods of the set of tie rods;
• and
• a third clasp coupled to the fixture body and configured to grasp the lateral tie rod of the set of tie rods.

A method of installing interior modules to support structures in an aircraft fuselage, the method comprising:

• attaching fixed ends of a plurality of tie rods to the support structures, the plurality of tie rods including a first vertical tie rod, a second vertical tie rod, and a lateral tie rod;
• determining installation length of the plurality of tie rods, installation spacing between free ends of the plurality of tie rods, and installation orientation of the plurality of tie rods prior to positioning the interior modules for installation;
• and
• securing a tie rod holding fixture to the plurality of tie rods to hold the installation spacing and installation orientation at or near a final configuration to facilitate installation of the interior modules, the tie rod holding fixture including:
• a collapsible fixture body;
• first and second clasps at respective ends of the fixture body, the first and second clasps configured to grasp the first and second vertical tie rods, respectively;
• and
• a third clasp coupled to the fixture body and configured to grasp the lateral tie rod.