Definition
A slang term for an aircraft wing whose structure is covered with fabric rather than metal or composite skin. The fabric is stretched over a framework of ribs and spars, then doped or otherwise treated to tighten it and seal the surface against the airflow.
Plain English
A wing covered in cloth instead of metal. The shape comes from the wooden or metal framework underneath, and the fabric is pulled tight over it to form the smooth outer surface.
Context Anchor
You may hear this term during preflight, maintenance, or discussions of older aircraft and fabric-covered airplanes.
Derivation
Rag' is informal for cloth or fabric. The nickname stuck because the wing's covering is literally fabric, in contrast to the all-metal wings that became standard on most production aircraft after the 1940s.
Why Pilots Care
Fabric wings are lighter but require regular inspection and upkeep to stay airworthy and weatherproof.
Analogy
Think of fabric stretched tightly over a frame, more like a drumhead than a blanket. On an aircraft wing, that tight covering forms the smooth outer shape the air flows over.
Intuition Check
Do not take “rag” literally here. A rag wing is not made from scraps or loose cloth; it is a properly built fabric-covered wing.
Example Sentence 1
He restored an old Piper Cub, so it's a true rag wing -- fabric covering and all.
Example Sentence 2
Many student pilots learn on rag-wing Cubs because the fabric construction keeps the airplane light and forgiving.