Guys,
Just curious since the Combat fliers have used Spectra line the longest, do you get static shocks from them like you can get with cable steel or solids?

Best,   DennisT

In this old man's thinking Spectra should not get staatic shocks unless the air is damp or high humidity.

In this old engineer's thinking that sounds very convincing -- but I'll believe it when I hear back from the experimentalists!

Guys,
Just curious since the Combat fliers have used Spectra line the longest, do you get static shocks from them like you can get with cable steel or solids?

Best,   DennisT

Dennis, the shocks you might get happen when an electric charge builds up in the air.  Storm clouds can build up a charge by shedding electrons(negative charge) near their tops that work down to the bottom of the cloud.  Apparently this also pulls electrons up to the cloud when the difference in charge builds up "enough" and the electrons in the cloud travel down to the ground, temporarily neutralizing the charge differential- a lightning stroke.

Something similar happens when a CL plane moves through the air.  Electrons build up on it and travel down the lines.  When enough build up they eventually jump to your hand, wherever is close enough and gives a shock.

The cure is to wrap bare wire around the hand grip and up the handle leadout.  The wire lets the electrons flow down to the ground and prevents a buildup.

The Spectra lines are a good insulator so electrons can't as easily  down to the handle when flying.


I think there is more to it though.  Back in Minnesota it seemed that we had a lot of jolts, mostly when the clouds were moving a lot, the sky was blue, and there was no rain.
Since I moved out to PA I never had a shock.  I think the humidity must build up quicker, draining off electrons and preventing shocks.  The fact that Spectra plastic is also a nearly perfect insulator would also help keep electrons from getting down to the ground and would prevent enough current to make a shock.
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Don't bet your life on this!  Get into a metal car or building instead of standing around in the open.  Just checking some publications it seems that the "mechanism" seems to be right, but it still is not completely explained.  Ben Franklin was apparently mistaken that a sharp point worked better on a lightning rod.  It appears that a bigger, blunter ball end helps to drain the  charge off before it builds up too much,

Phil C