The virtual manufacturing technology (VMT) can be used to model, simulate and optimize the whole life cycle of a product in the stage of the product design, so that more efficient, more economic and more flexible production can be organized. Thus the goal for shortening the product development cycle, reducing the development costs, optimizing the product quality and improving the production efficiency can be achieved. This paper briefly introduces the implication and characteristics of VMT and the situation of its applications. Then it reviews the applications of VMT in the aircraft  manufacturing industry, which includes the successful cases of the virtual design of the aircraft theoretical surfaces and aerodynamics, the virtual manufacturing of the parts, the virtual assembly of the components and the virtual design of the production line, so that the significance of the VMT applications is demonstrated. Finally, it gives the production for the future  development and applications of VMT.