Previously, the first half of the modular design process was introduced. In that phase, the parts of the airframe are built simultaneously and assembled all at once at the end. This issue introduces the second half of this process. The individually assembled parts of the US-2 are detached from their respective jigs and transferred to a large jig for assembly of the entire airframe (hull), and then joined together.

As is commonplace in the manufacturing process of "US-2", large parts are joined together with no more than a hair's width of space between them. As has been mentioned many times in this series, it demonstrates the extremely precise work accomplished up to this point. After all parts are joined, it is time to unload the jig. Generally speaking, this is the halfway point in aircraft manufacturing. In the case of a shipbuilding this is the timing when the parts of the hull are made in simultaneously, joined at the dock (a facility to build and repair ships), and the ship's shape is revealed for the first time. It is indeed a milestone.

As the name suggests, jig unloading refers to the detaching of the airframe from the jig in which it has been assembled. Although it is called jig unloading, the airframe is actually lifted up. The airframe cannot be lifted straight up if the center of gravity is off. Therefore, it is lifted a few millimeters at a time, and if the center is slightly off even by a bit, a weight is placed on the lighter side to maintain balance. This is done carefully and delicately. It is not unusual for the lifting to take several hours to complete, even though the distance is only a few meters.
　
When lifted into the air, the entire fuselage of the large US-2 can be seen for the first time. The craftsmen at the Konan Plant, who have been carrying out this delicate work ever since the start of manufacturing, feel a sense of accomplishment when they see it so large. But the scenes that require technical skills will continue in the future.