Abstract: A structural component, especially a substantially hollow aircraft structural component such as a wing or tail section having an upper chord or shell and a lower chord or shell interconnected to form a substantially hollow bending beam in use, is so constructed that the chord or shell which is primarily taking up tension stress is made of fiber reinforced composite material, while the other chord or shell which primarily takes up compression stress is made of metal. In an aircraft wing the upper wing shell will be made of metal and the lower shell will be made of fiber reinforced composite material. However, the tail plane and elevator assembly will have an upper shell made of fiber reinforced composite material while the lower shell will be made of metal.