Hi all,

I am ordering flying wires for the Bearhawk, and I need some first hand knowledge please:
Quite a lot of people say they're putting sturdier flying wires underneath the horisontal stabiliser, because "off-airport operations are hard on streamlined wires, and that they wear out pretty quick".

While I can't imagine what failure mode wears out high-tensile steel wires, but doesn't harm the fabric covered elevators just inches away... I have zero time with flying wires. So I'm not sure whether to give up on the streamlined wires for tougher rounded ones? Apparently the increased drag is noticable.

I will be flying out of grass strips, with occasional landings on gravel, riverbed, or maybe paved

I had to replace the struts on my horizontal stab on one side of my airplane from what I assume was a rock I tossed on takeoff from a gravel bar. It put a huge dent and bent the crap out of my 3/8" choromoly. Kinda scary I didn't know it until an hour later when I landed.

A rock hitting the sharp edge of a flat wire will do more damage than a rock hitting a round one. If you land on gravel they will get hit.

As ccurrie says, a rock ding on the leading edge of a streamlined wire can cause a nick and a subsequent stress riser. I'd probably stick with round wires.

MTV

Dip-it covers?

No, I kid, I don't think it would be good to have standing water in the wire (hidden crevice corrosion).

Edit: What about dyneema/spectra "wire"? Okay, it will need changing fairly often, but with that you could get a sleeve, no crevice corrosion, and save some weight to boot. Probably not kosher or FAA approved.

So far, 500 hours on my Bearhawk flying Idaho and Nevada strips and pavement - no gravel bars yet. My streamlined wires are doing fine. I agree the round wires are more durable, however.

I did bend the horizontal stab bottom brace by hitting a tree, but that is another story and you really don't want to do that!

While not as durable, those flying wires can also be made out of 1x19 cable with swagged ends.

Thanks everyone for the help, saves me finding out the hard way!

Blackrock, so you're mostly in and out of grass and desert strips for 500 hours and no worries? I think that's not a bad analogy for how I'll be flying here, so thanks very much for the input.
Sorry to hear about the strut though.... I bet that was a pain is the ass!!