(Phase 1: 2-series aluminum alloy)

2-series aluminum alloy is considered the earliest and most widely used aviation aluminum alloy.

The crank box of the Wright brothers’ Flight 1 in 1903 was made of aluminum copper alloy casting. After 1906, aluminum alloys of 2017, 2014, and 2024 were successively invented. Before 1944, 2-series aluminum alloys accounted for more than 90% of the aluminum material used in aircraft structures. Even now, it is still one of the most widely used alloys in aerospace structural materials.

The most commonly used alloy on aircraft is 2024, which was invented by the American aluminum company in 1932. There are still 8 commonly used alloys (2024 type).

In current civil aircraft manufacturing, the net usage of 2024 aluminum alloy accounts for over 30% of the total net usage of aluminum.