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Classic Designs => Classic Planes => Topic started by: Skip Chernoff on May 30, 2018, 06:46:18 PM

Title: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Skip Chernoff on May 30, 2018, 06:46:18 PM

Do any of you old timers out there know what length lines Lew Mcfarland used on his Shark 45? I'm presently flying on my ST 60 powered Shark  69.5 C/L to C/L. Thanks,PhillySkip

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Dennis Adamisin on May 31, 2018, 07:39:55 AM

Hi Skip
While I just celebrated a birthday I HATE to think of myself as an "old timer"!  However, I looked up the Shark magazine article and it strongly "hints" that Lew used 70's for his Shark.  Your 69.5' handle to centerline sounds legit but be mindful that cable lines will stretch over time and you might someday soon end up over 70'.

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Skip Chernoff on May 31, 2018, 07:48:18 PM

Thanks Dennis. I have that article,but he never actually says something like.....I fly my Shark on....

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: proparc on July 24, 2018, 10:41:40 AM

I have flown Big Sharks, launched them, and seen plenty of them fly. 69-70 feet C. to C. is the way to go.

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Skip Chernoff on July 25, 2018, 06:09:02 PM

After extensive testing ,I've shortened my lines to 65 feet eyelet to eyelet. The plane seems much more responsive especially on windy days.

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Paul Smith on July 26, 2018, 02:06:36 PM

Remember, the K&B 45 seemed like a monster compared to the usual Fox 35 Stunt.  But it's not all that much compared to the stunt engines of today.

Lew probably used 70's due to the preceived power, weight and line pull back in the day.

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: proparc on July 26, 2018, 06:11:58 PM

Quote from: Skip Chernoff on July 25, 2018, 06:09:02 PM

After extensive testing ,I've shortened my lines to 65 feet eyelet to eyelet. The plane seems much more responsive especially on windy days.

What you described is pretty close to about 68 feet C. to C. About right in the ballpark. You should get used to measuring your lines from the center line of the plane, to the center line of your handle. Those are the distances that actually count in competition.

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: Trostle on July 26, 2018, 06:34:41 PM

Quote from: proparc on July 26, 2018, 06:11:58 PM

What you described is pretty close to about 68 feet C. to C. About right in the ballpark. You should get used to measuring your lines from the center line of the plane, to the center line of your handle. Those are the distances that actually count in competition.

Regarding line lengths, the only thing that "counts" in PA competition is the minimum of 25 feet and the maximum of 70 feet, "measured from the center point of the grip part of the control handle to the fore and aft center line of the model."  Many stunt fliers refer to the length of their lines measured from eyelet to eyelet, knowing that there is a 70 foot limit as defined above.

Keith

Title: Re: Original Shark 45 Line Length
Post by: john e. holliday on July 26, 2018, 08:21:21 PM

And when they measure eye to eye on the lines they forget about the lead out length and the distance from center of handle to the clip. S?P