A review of scientific and technical information on structural deformable aluminum alloys, Al-Cu-Mg (series 2xxx) and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu (series 7xxx) systems was conducted. Their chemical and phase composition, alloying methods, mechanical and operational properties, influence of technological factors were analyzed. Examples of the use of these alloys in aircraft construction are given. It is shown that among the alloys of the Al-Cu-Mg system (D1, B65, D16, D16ч, 1163, D19, etc.), the strongest is D16 and its improved modifications D16ч and 1163, the mechanical properties of which in the heat-hardened state are equal to low-carbon steels. Alloys D16, D16оч, 1163 have high strength characteristics at 20 0С and elevated temperatures, especially in the form of sheets and pressed parts. Therefore, it is a common material for the manufacture of aircraft skins in the engine area, which is subject to heating. However, an increase in strength leads to a decrease in plasticity. Alloys based on the Al-Zn-Cu-Mg system (В95, В95пч, В95оч, В96, В96Ц, В96Ц1, В96Ц3, В94, В93, В92, etc.) are the most high-strength among deformable aluminum alloys, so they are widely used in responsible power elements of aircraft and rocket engineering in the form of pressed and forged products. The strongest of them is B96Ц, especially its modification B96Ц1, in which, unlike the B95 alloy, manganese and chromium are partially or completely replaced by zirconium. The B95 alloy has high compressive strength and is used to cover the upper surface of aircraft wings, which is in a compressed state during flight. The inner surface of the wing is made of D16, D16ч, 1163 alloys that withstand tensile loads in flight. In terms of strength, the B95 alloy exceeds the similar characteristics of the D16 alloy by 20-25%, and in terms of yield strength by 40%. Replacing the D16 alloy with B95 makes it possible to reduce the weight of the aircraft to 5 tons. Almost all the large-sized stamped parts for the world’s largest turboprop An-22 “Antey” transport aircraft are made from the B93 forging alloy, which is alloyed with iron and heat-treated according to the T1 regime.The main disadvantage of high-strength alloys of the Al-Cu-Mg and Al-Zn-Mg-Cu systems is their tendency to degrade, which is caused by the action of various types of loads and corrosive environments during aircraft and flight basing and is accompanied by the development of fatigue or corrosion-fatigue cracks. Alternative points of view regarding the causes of these phenomena and ways of improving the properties of products made of these alloys by alloying, thermal and deformation treatments are considered. Keywords: deformable structural aluminum alloys; aircraft construction, chemical and phase composition, alloying, mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, heat treatment.