Insulation blanket assemblies and methods

A method of making an insulation blanket assembly for an aircraft, the method comprising:

• providing an insulation material;
• forming a cover having an inboard material and an outboard material, wherein the insulation material is between the inboard material and the outboard material, wherein an edge of the inboard material is attached to an edge of the outboard material, thereby forming a unit structure configured to be installed within the aircraft;
• and
• prior to or after forming the cover, attaching one or more elongated support rails to at least one of the cover or the insulation material such that, when installed on the aircraft, the one or more elongated support rails provide separation of the insulation material from an outer panel of the aircraft material to reduce or eliminate moisture from transferring to the insulation material, and wherein the one or more support rails are configured to extend transverse relative to a plurality of aircraft stringers to define drainage paths for channeling moisture;
• and
• providing at least one of the following:
• (i) wherein at least one elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails includes a beveled edge on opposing ends of the elongated member to facilitate sliding the insulation blanket assembly into position prior to securing to the aircraft structure;
• (ii) wherein the one or more elongated support rails are comprised of a flexible foam material, and wherein the cover and the insulation material are flexible, such that the insulation blanket assembly radially conforms to a shape of a fuselage of the aircraft when installed;
• (iii) wherein an edge of the outboard material is attached to an edge of the inboard material with tape, and wherein the one or more elongated support rails are attached with double-sided tape;
• (iv) wherein a first elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails has a first width, wherein a second elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails has a second width that is less than the first width, and wherein the first elongated support rail and the second elongated support rail are comprised of the same foam material such that the first elongated support rail has a different stiffness than the second elongated support rail to provide rigidity to the insulation blanket assembly;
• (v) wherein each elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails has a length that is less than a length of the cover such that ends of the one or more support rails are separated laterally from a perimeter of the cover;
• (vi) wherein a first elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails has a first length, wherein a second elongated support rail of the one or more elongated support rails has a second length that is less than the first length to provide variable rigidity along the insulation blanket assembly;
• and
• (vii) wherein the one or more elongated support rails are comprised of a closed cell foam.