Assembly and method connecting an aircraft wing aft spar root to an aircraft body fuselage

An assembly connecting an aircraft wing to an aircraft body, the assembly comprising:

• a panel, the panel having a panel forward edge, the panel forward edge having a forward edge surface;
• the panel having a panel top flange, the panel top flange having a top flange surface;
• the panel having a panel bottom flange arranged perpendicular to the top flange, wherein the bottom flange defines, in a cross-sectional view, an inboard portion of the bottom flange and an outboard portion of the bottom flange and has, the panel bottom flange having a bottom flange surface;
• the panel forward edge surface opposing a rearward edge surface of a rearward extending flange on the aircraft wing;
• the panel top flange surface opposing a bottom surface on the aircraft body;
• the panel bottom flange surface opposing a top surface of a rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing,
• a gap between the bottom flange surface and the top surface of the rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing, wherein:
• the gap has an inboard portion of the gap between the bottom flange surface of the inboard portion of the bottom flange and an outboard portion of the gap between the bottom flange surface of the outboard portion of the bottom flange on opposite sides of the gap;
• and,
• in the cross-sectional view, the inboard portion of the gap tapers as the inboard portion of the gap extends into the gap and the outboard portion of the gap tapers as the outboard portion of the gap extends into the gap;
• an inboard shim inserted into the inboard portion of the gap;
• and,
• an outboard shim inserted into the outboard portion of the gap.

A method of assembling an aircraft wing to an aircraft body, the method comprising:

• moving the aircraft wing toward the aircraft body;
• positioning a panel forward edge surface of a panel on the aircraft body opposite a rearward edge surface on a rearward extending flange on the aircraft wing, wherein:
• the panel has an inboard side surface, an outboard side surface, and a perpendicular bottom flange;
• and,
• the bottom flange defines a panel bottom including, in a cross-sectional view, an inboard portion of the bottom flange and an outboard portion of the bottom flange, the panel bottom having a panel bottom surface;
• and,
• positioning the panel bottom surface on the panel opposite a top surface on a rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing with there being a gap between the panel bottom surface and the top surface of the rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing, wherein:
• the gap has an inboard portion of the gap between the panel bottom surface of the inboard portion of the bottom flange and an outboard portion of the gap between the panel bottom surface of the outboard portion of the bottom flange on opposite sides of the gap;
• and,
• in the cross-sectional view, the inboard portion of the gap tapers as the inboard portion of the gap extends into the gap and the outboard portion of the gap tapers as the outboard portion of the gap extends into the gap;
• inserting an inboard shim into the inboard portion of the gap between the panel bottom surface and the top surface of the rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing;
• and,
• inserting an outboard shim into the outboard portion of the gap between the panel bottom surface and the top surface of the rearward extending plate on the aircraft wing.