The objective of this study was to assess the effect of compression prior to aging on the hardness values of the 2297-T87 plate stock. Blocks were solution treated at 521degreesC (970 degreesF), water quenched and naturally aged for 24 hours. Samples were subsequently compressed between 2-15% nominal strain and artificially aged. One aging schedule included single isotherms: 160 degreesC (320 degreesF) and 177 degreesC (350 degreesF) for 24 and 36 hours. The second schedule included multistep aging: 121degreesC (250 degreesF) for 18 hours or 24 hours followed by 177 degreesC (350 degreesF) for 24 hours. The hardness values obtained are compared to those of the as-received - T87 plate.