An aircraft composite panel assembly includes a first panel having upper and lower faces, the lower face having a recess on a first side of the panel, a second panel having upper and lower faces, the lower face having an outward projection at a first side of the panel, the outward projection received on the recess forming a lower continuous face; and a forward stack of plies of composite material bonded to the upper face of the first panel, the forward stack of plies having an edge overlapping the first side of the first panel, and the number of plies of the forward stack of plies decreasing toward the opposite side of the first side of the first panel.