Definition
A method of aircraft skin construction in which treated cloth is stretched over a structural framework of wood or metal tubing, then sealed, tightened, and finished with dope or similar coatings to form a smooth, airtight, weather-resistant outer surface.
Plain English
It is the cloth skin used on some aircraft instead of metal sheeting. The cloth is pulled tight over the airframe and painted with special coatings so it becomes hard, smooth, and sealed against wind and weather.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft construction, aircraft maintenance, restoration work, and preflight inspection of fabric-covered airplanes.
Derivation
Fabric comes from a Latin word related to skilled making or workmanship, and later came to mean woven cloth. In aviation, the important point is that fabric covering is not loose cloth; it is a carefully installed and sealed aircraft surface.
Why Pilots Care
Determines aircraft weight, drag, and airworthiness; fabric must be inspected regularly for tears, rot, or loss of tension.
Intuition Check
Do not picture a simple dust cover or tarp placed over an airplane. Fabric covering is part of the aircraft’s finished outer surface and is attached, tightened, sealed, and maintained as an aircraft system.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic specialized in fabric covering and was hired to recover the wings of a vintage Piper Cub.
Example Sentence 2
Restoring the fabric covering on a vintage trainer requires proper doping to keep it tight and weatherproof.