Special Events

SEB-09-1 - Allow use of high strength fiber lines in events that currently use stainless steel cables.

General Para.5 .......All lines used to control flights shall be steel music wire or metal of equivalent strength, or braided cables made from gel-spun ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene(GSUMP). ......

(additional paragraph)
The following chart gives the equivalent sizes for GSUMP when substituting them for seven strand stainless steel cables.

.021 stainless= .021(.53 mm) 150 lb. test 30 lb. monofilament equivalent diameter
.018 stainless = .0181(.46 mm) 100 lb test 20 lb. monofilament equivalent diameter
.015 stainless = .0153(.38 mm) 80 lb test. 18 lb monofilament equivalent diameter
.012 stainless = .0122(.31 mm) 50 lb. Test 12 lb. monofilament equivalent diameter
paragraph 5.3.1 (added paragraph)

Gel spun braided lines (Spectra(tm) or Dyneema (tm) fiber) may be terminated two ways. The first is to fold the line back against itself and tie the loop in a double overhand knot by forming a loop with the doubled line and passing the folded end through the loop twice. Lubricate the line with water or saliva to assist in pulling it smoothly tight. To terminate lines using line clips the line should be tied to the clip using a “half blood knot”. Loop the line through the clip, wrap the line around the standing end 5-6 times and bring the free end back through the loop on the line clip. Lubricate the knot with water or saliva and pull tight smoothly.

Logic:
The gel-spun ultra high molecular weight lines offer many advantages over steel wires, both solid and stranded. The GSUMP material is does not kink. It is almost totally immune to fatigue (the lines will not break from vibration at a point where they have been bent). The high visibility colors make it much easier to see the lines laying on the ground. They are highly resistant to wear when rubbed against each other (approximately four times more wear resistant). They stretch less and are easier to make up when they do wear and need replacement. The lines are made of many, many fibers so when wear and fiber breakage are seen they can be replaced in a timely manner.

Control Line Racing: add to paragraph. 5.3 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction.

Control Line Navy Carrier: add to paragraph. 4.1 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction. 

Control Line Precision Aerobatics: add a new paragraph, 4.1 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction. 

Combat: add a new paragraph: 3.5 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction. 

Control Line Special Events, (Control Line Endurance, Event 332): add to paragraph. 5 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction. 

Control Line Scale (Event 508): add to paragraph. 4 Refer to the control line general rules for control line materials and line construction.

Submitted by: Phil Cartier, AMA #6249