Line lengths

thats about right, it's amazing how much a couple feet make.

Ron you got it close...generally speaking... and I know you understand competition has designated lengths

As you have experienced some plane engine prop combinations may require shorter or longer for comfortable controlled non competition flying

It also sounds like you, Rusty and I all tend to adjust to the front or side yard available space...

Fred,

Some of my 1/2A planes would probably do fine with 42' however, like you said I do adjust my length to the size of my flying site. Anything more than 33' of line and tree collisions rise exponentially. So including my arm length I am at 35'.

Thanks for the confirmation fellers, I have read so much conflicting info that I just wanted to get it right in my head. I will go ahead and make up a few line sets of varying lengths so I can be at the ready when the feeling strikes!

Ron

RknRusty wrote:I agree with what you posted. I use 45'(plus my arm length) on my fastest 1/2A planes. I don't know where any standards are written, but below I cut this list from the AMA aerobatics rules document:



The whole document can be found here:
http://www.modelaircraft.org/files/2013-2014CLAerobatics.pdf

Rusty, looking at the chart you posted it appears you can go down to 25ft on a 40oz model. That doesn't seem right. Can you imagine flying your Shoestring on 25ft lines?

Crazy!

Ron

Not gonna comment on the shoestring on 25 ft lines, other than it is open to trimming for line length in the rules.

If you make up some 1 ft, 2 ft, 3 ft, and 5 ft line sections, you can add 11 ft of line in 1 ft increments for trimming. (trees permitting)

If your skills are not quite there, then just add the 5 ft and see if the plane become more controllable.

It is better to add near the handle to reduce windage from connectors, etc near the plane.

Phil

Basically, your going to be flying on 60' lines. Seeing that the majority of older models have generally similar wingspans, mainly due to getting the kit in a box, you want to keep the line length in or around 60' center of plane to center of handle. This usually calculates to a eyelet to eyelet length of about 58'. That being said, one would say why the need to go larger. Well, if you progress into .40 size airplanes, your getting a lot of power for the size of that engine. It just makes it easier to slow the plane down by using longer line lengths. I almost have a custom set of lines for most planes I fly aside from combat. Combat requires equal line lengths. center of plane to center of handle is 60' + or - 6". When flying 1/2A, 42' + or - 3" center of plane to center of handle .

Don't trust premade commercially available lines to be the correct length just because they say so on the package. 9 out of 10 times they're horrific. The lines themselves aren't the same length and when you bias the difference with your handle this can lead to problems as well. Keep the lines the same length. Eyelets and crimp tubes are very inexpensive, readily available and easy to use. Keeping them in your pit box can readily repair a frayed set of lines which could prevent a day of flying. They can be purchased here http://mbsmodelsupply.com/ .

.15 size aircraft usually uses a line length of 52' center of plane to center of handle. These planes can afford line lengths as low as 50'. I generally make the line lengths from eyelet to eyelet 51' long.

Weight of plane and engine condition can also determine the demand for longer or shorter lines. For sport flying I keep a set of Pro Braid Spectra lines 100 lb test. These are considerably lighter than stainless line sets. If your in a area that's susceptible to people walking on your lines, the Pro Braid is the ticket. Ken

Thanks Ken,

I have learned the hard way that factory cut cables are not exactly 60' I have not flown the Ring since receiving your lines interested in seeing what 58' lines do for the slack lines on the windward side of the circle.