四个全尺寸金属基复合材料（MMC）垂直尾翼由两种类型的MMC制成:15V/0 SIC W/2124-T6 AL和SIC/6061 AL。零件的制造采用了几种独特的、经济高效的工艺。毫无疑问，最省力的设备是用来切割平面图案的机器人磨料水射流。法兰肋通过热橡胶液压成形形成，用一个凸模块代替匹配的模具。采用化学研磨和粘接剂对SIC W-AL大型层压蒙皮进行了研磨- 粘结。所有制造和组装操作均按照生产率工艺标准和说明进行。

FOUR FULL-SCALE METAL-MATRIX COMPOSITE (MMC) VERTICAL TAILS WERE BUILT FROM TWO TYPES OF MMC: 15V/0 SIC W/2124-T6 AL, AND SIC/6061 AL. FABRICATION OF THE DETAIL PARTS USED SEVERAL UNIQUE, COST-EFFECTIVE PROCESSES. WITHOUT QUESTION, THE GREATEST LABOR-SAVING DEVICE WAS THE ROBOTIC ABRASIVE WATERJET USED TO CUT THE FLAT PATTERNS. FLANGED RIBS WERE FORMED BY HOT-RUBBER HYDROFORMING, REPLACING MATCHED DIES WITH A SINGLE MALE FORM BLOCK. THE LARGE LAMINATED SIC W AL SKINS WERE CHEMICALLY MILLED AND ADHESIVE-BONDED. ALL FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY OPERATIONS WERE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRODUCTION-RATE PROCESS STANDARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS.