McFarlane has over 4,500 cable assemblies and chains in stock. We have FAA-PMA approved cables available in corrosion resistant stainless or high strength galvanized steel for most 100 and 200 series Cessna aircraft, PA28, PA32, and PA34 series Piper aircraft and G-164 series Ag-Cat aircraft. McFarlane also stocks cables for single engine piston and many turbine and twin engine Beechcraft, and stabilator adjust cables for Piper J3, PA11, PA12, PA14, PA16, PA18, PA18A, PA20 and PA22 aircraft.
McFarlane flight control cables offer quality that is second to none in the aircraft industry. Our quality assurance procedures and personnel ensure that our aircraft flight control cables meet the highest standards possible. These standards exceed the military specifications that govern aircraft flight control cables. Each McFarlane cable assembly is made from the highest quality U.S. manufactured materials from suppliers that have been listed by the U.S. government as being tested and qualified for government use (QPL listed). Before cable assemblies are accepted a sample from each lot is subjected to a test load equal to 100% of their rated minimum breaking strength and then destroyed. Each cable terminal swaged on a cable assembly is inspected for proper dimension. All assemblies produced are pre-stretched to eliminate rigging and growth changes after installation. In addition, each and every McFarlane cable assembly must endure a sustained proof load equal to 60% of the cable’s minimum rated breaking strength assuring the safest and highest quality aircraft flight control cables available.
Custom cable assemblies can be fabricated and certified to specification MIL-DTL-6117 or certified to your special specifications. Our custom cables with standard fittings are pre-stretched and proof loaded in accordance with MIL-DTL-5688. Cables using nonstandard fittings are proof loaded and pre-stretched when possible but cannot be certified to the MIL-DTL-5688 or MIL-DTL-6117 standards. McFarlane can also manufacture and certify cable assemblies to the NAS302 through NAS310 standards. Cable assemblies requiring special non-standard terminals can be made to your data or old cable using our precision machine shop, inspection system, and quality-controlled processes. Several industry standard corrosion preventative coatings are also available. Our experienced engineering staff is available to develop cables for unique applications. Traceability of all materials and test reports are maintained for our custom cables. Our extensive stock of cable and fittings allows us to quickly provide one-to-three-day service for most orders. A custom cable design form is available on our website or send us your old cable. Custom assemblies are manufactured using the same materials and attention to quality as our FAA-PMA products; however, custom cables are not FAA-PMA approved.
Stainless steel is corrosion resistant and works well in environments such as salt air, water saturation, or agricultural chemicals. Galvanized carbon steel and stainless cables are soaked in a MIL-SPEC rust preventative and lubricating compound. In normal environments, the galvanized cable will not suffer from corrosion damage for decades. The advantages of galvanized cables are their wear resistance and cost. They resist abrasion wear about 5x longer than stainless steel. Stainless steel wire is high in nickel, therefore softer than the carbon steel wire. Stainless steel cable will show signs of wire wear at pulleys and fairleads much quicker than the galvanized carbon steel wire. We recommend using galvanized steel cables except in coastal geographical areas, agricultural aircraft, float planes, and other applications where the cable is exposed directly to water. Only McFarlane has FAA-PMA approved galvanized cables for the new production Cessna aircraft. All Beechcraft cables are made from galvanized steel cable and coated with a modified MILPRF-16173 compound. This is the same process used on Beechcraft original cables. It provides additional corrosion protection beyond the standard MIL-SPEC rust preventive oil. This provides both exceptional wear resistance and corrosion protection for many years.
McFarlane buys certified cable in large quantities direct from the mill. This allows us to provide low prices on bulk cable. McFarlane offers pre-packaged bulk cable in a variety of sizes. Cable can be ordered in 100ft. or 500ft. lengths. Certification from the cable manufacturer is given with every order.
McFarlane stocks all pulleys required for Cessna single engine aircraft. Our FAA-PMA approval on pulleys replace the AN, NAS and S series pulleys commonly used on Cessna aircraft. Pulley kits contain all the pulleys and cotter pins required for one aircraft.
McFarlane offers the trim control chains for Cessna single engine and most Beechcraft aircraft. Don’t forget to replace your trim control chains and connecting links where necessary!
We offer terminals, turnbuckles, eye ends, sleeves, locking clips, barrels and balls. Let our purchasing volume save you money!
McFarlane has complete flight control cable and trim chain kits for many aircraft, including Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft. Most of the light aircraft fleet has seen many years of service and have endured many flight hours. Worn, rusty, and frayed cables are now common. It is a tedious, time-consuming job to research the part manuals for all cables required for a complete aircraft. McFarlane has done the research and has all of the part numbers required for your aircraft. We stock kits in either galvanized-carbon steel or stainless steel. All components are fully traceable and carry a one-year limited warranty.
Along with our complete kits, we now offer sub-system kits for many Cessna, Piper, and Beechcraft aircraft. Now you can easily replace all the cables in each subsystem: aileron, elevator, rudder, and flap!