Stranded cable alternates

[rich gorrill]

Hi guy's, just wondering what brand and size or lb. test of braid fishing line would replace .012 stranded cable. Any help would be appreciated.

T.I.A.  Rich

[Dave_Trible]

Rich.... None.  The braided stainless cable or equivalent solid wire are the only approved flying line used.  Fishing line has been banned since the 1950s.  Besides safety it also has a disturbing stretch and spring to it that makes it like flying on rubber bands.  If I sound like I'm jumping hard on this answer.. I am.  Need to extinguish this fast before any accidents.

Dave

[Igor Burger]

Dave, some fising lines are comparable with steel lines, they are strong enough and elongation is also OK. The biggest trouble is difficulty of knots stability and strength. Well done knots are ok, but improperly done knots tend to disassemble (wire tends lo "leak" in knot) or break in knot. So it is well usefull only on small models, we use it on indoors.

[Dave_Trible]

I'll amend my comments in re very small models like 1/2a ( I use Dacron on these) or small electric, maybe up to a pound.  My thoughts and words were directed towards anything larger.  Thanks Igor.

Dave

[rich gorrill]

Thanks Dave, I'll stay away from fishing line. I must have picked up a bad bit of info.  Wasn't there and alternate put out by a major name company called "Tufstrand", Is this also banned

Rich

[Dave_Trible]

There was a product put out briefly by Sullivan a decade or longer ago that never went anywhere.  It was in answer to a lawsuit where a youngster got electrocuted when he flew  his airplane into a power line.  The mother sued everybody and largely gutted the control line industry at that time.  That's when quite a few manufacturers folded or dropped control line.  Sullivan stayed open but stopped the wire cables and tried the other material.  It stopped the EZ Just handles,  Sterling control line (Ringmaster) and I don't remember what else.  Since then lines have mostly been a Sig product or come from the 'garage' industry.

Dave

[tom hampshire]

     The AMA has allowed Spectra lines for combat contests, and sport flying.  They are not yet legal for stunt contests.  Spectra lines are commonly available through fishing tackle shops.  Spectra is the trade name for Gel Spun Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyester (GSUMP), and the manufacturers trade name is Dyneema.  The specific rule, included in the CL General category, is:

5.3.5.1 Spectra Lines.
Lines made of Spectra fiber, made of gel spun ultra high molecular weight polyethylene are permitted for sport flying and demonstration purposes. Spectra lines are not permitted in competition unless the specific rules for the event flown expressly permit such use. The use of high visibility yellow lines is recommended, but not required. For sport and demonstration flying with two lines, Spectra lines shall have the following strengths:
Aircraft Engine Watts Rated
Weight Displacement Spectra St.
24 oz .09 300 20lbs. .010”
40 oz .25 450 40lbs .013”
64 oz .40 600 60lbs .016”
75 oz .75 750 100lbs .018”
All lines shall be pull tested to 10 times the model weight. An aircraft must meet both the weight and power standards to qualify for the stated line size. Exceeding either standard places the aircraft in the next larger line size bracket. Aircraft shall be weighed with either a full fuel tank or battery on board.
Terminations shall be constructed using a 5 turn uni-knot, tied on a bight, or two strands of line looped back from the free end. An instruction film of the knot can be found at . The drawings below show a single strand for clarity, but should be tied on a bight. The knot is tied as follows:
1) Run at least six inches of line through the eye of the clip, and fold to make two parallel lines. Bring the tag end of the line back in a circle toward the clip.
2) Make six turns with the tag end around the double line and through the circle.
3) Hold the double line at the point where it passes through the eye, and pull the tag end to snug up the turns.
4) To create a loop connection: Adjust the loop size by sliding the knot up or down the standing line. Then pull the tag end with pliers to maximize tightness.

[rich gorrill]

Hit the nail on the head. Spectra was the line I heard about, also was told it was fishing line that's were I went a little off course. I didn't know it was approved for combat. Thanks for the help and info.

Rich