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Tight reins in the stratosphere
FOR YEARS the performance of bombers and fighter planes at high altitudes has been seriously handicapped by "mushy" controls due to slackness in the cables.
That's because, when flying in the earth's upper atmosphere where it's sometimes as cold as minus 70°F., the aluminum airframe contracts much more than the carbon steel control cables. To take up the slack, all sorts of compensating devices were utilized. They were expensive. They added cumbersome weight. Created potential lags in control response.
Now this problem has been solved. By the logical step of basically improving the control cable itself. . . by developing a steel cable that would contract and expand at practically the same rate as the plane's aluminum frame. It took fifteen years to do it but it was worth the time and cost. We called this improved cable, HYCO-SPAN*.
HYCO-SPAN Aircraft Cable, with a coefficient of expansion 50% higher than high carbon steel, and 33% higher than stainless steel, comes closest of any steel cable to matching the expansion and contraction of 24 ST aluminum alloy air frames.
Even without temperature compensating devices, HYCO-SPAN provides positive, responsive control that won't loosen or tighten up, that will remain free of lag and mushiness, and that prevents the development of plane flutter- no matter what the altitude, no matter how big the plane or at what speed the plane is flying.
In addition, HYCO-SPAN Cable, being non-magnetic, has no effect on sensitive airborne electronic equipment. Having the corrosion resistance of stainless steel, HYCO-SPAN stands up well in service in any climate. Its low coefficient of friction permits lower tension loads and improves stability.
HYCO-SPAN Cable, developed by the engineers of American Steel and Wire Division, is a typical product of the research work that goes on constantly at United States Steel. A technical bulletin outlining the properties and characteristics of this control cable is available. Write United States Steel Corporation, Room 2810-Q, 525 William Penn Place, Pittsburgh 30, Pa.
*Short for "high coefficient of expansion."
USS 3-652
UNITED STATES STEEL
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OFFICIAL PROGRAM and LOG