Looking for plans-build suggestions

[Sam Buchanan]

General question: all other things being equal, what are the differences between building an all metal wing and a fabric covered wing? And break that down even further into wood spar, aluminum spar, wood ribs etc.

I guess what I'm getting at is whether or not a fabric covered wing offers any advantages in terms of cost or ease of build.

There are so many variables when considering your question I doubt there is a consensus answer. Some wood wings are very basic, some very complex. Some metal wings have been built from plans and others you wouldn't want to tackle without a kit. Every airplane is a compromise...what you might gain in low cost with one method might be offset with more labor than a different method.

I've built several aircraft (wood, steel, fabric, plans, kits) but don't think I can answer your question. It's sorta like asking what is the difference in flying a fixed wing or a helicopter? Both require different technique but either can be mastered by the motivated flyer.