Solid riveting is the most widely used joining technique in aircraft assembly, and the current key problems affecting practical application and reliable lifting are concentrated on static strength and fatigue. This paper aims to present a practical review on current practice and novel techniques of solid riveting for aircraft applications in order to obtain a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms of defect development to assist industrial users to find pragmatic solutions for safe life extension of components. At first, the current status of solid riveting processes is reviewed, and the key influencing factors on static/fatigue failure of riveted joints are identified. Effects of solid riveting design parameters, manufacturing parameters, residual stress, load transfer and secondary bending on static and fatigue strengths of riveted lap joints are discussed, followed by a review of the state-of-the-art solutions that deal with static/fatigue failures. Furthermore the new development in solid riveting techniques, including the use of different materials and riveting processes, is addressed. Finally, future research perspective and applications industrial riveting is presented.