In order to improve the comprehensive performance of aluminium alloys for the aviation application, it is necessary to experimentally characterize the microstructure, and thus to build a bridge between the microstructure and macro-performance of aluminum alloys. This paper introduces the brief developing course of 2xxx, 6xxx and 7xxx aluminum alloys and their microstructure evolution during artificial aging.The structural characteristics of significant phases like GP zones in Al-Cu alloys and GPB zones in Al-Cu-Mg alloys, and the precipitation behavior of S phase in Al-Cu-Mg alloys, etc, are thoroughly studied. The application of Transmission Electron Microscopy, Scanning-Transmission Electron Microscopy, 3-Dimentional Atom Probe in the investigations of structure, morphology, composition, interface structures, intergranular corrosion resistance and so on has been reviewed, especially the Ω phase in Al-Cu-Mg-Ag alloys and β" phase in Al-Mg-Si-Cu alloys. Our group has finished the works such as the simulation and characterization of complex selected area electron diffraction patterns in Al alloys, as well as the measuring of the precipitates' volume fraction with high accuracy which is based on the convergent beam electron diffraction.