Understanding Military Specifications on Aircraft Cable
As anyone working with Military Specifications knows, deciphering the alphabet soup that is the material designation can be frustrating.
Military Specification Cable is designated by a Government Designation, numerical designations that specify the required aircraft cable.
Here's a follow up to my article of a few weeks ago: Deciphering Military Aircraft Cable Call-Outs.
I mentioned that Military Specification Cable is often designated in RFP's and RFQ's by the Government Designation, a series of numerical designations to specify the Type, Composition, and Diameter of the required aircraft cable. These designations are published in the QPL-83420, but not in any clear order for quick reference.
To that end, I have posted a complete list of the pertinent designations below, by type and composition designation and in order of suffix. This should make your deciphering that much easier when you need to call Loos & Co., Inc for a quotation!
| M83420/1 | Galvanized, Non Jacketed | Type I, Comp A | |
| Government Designation |
Diameter |
Construction |
|
| M83420/1-001 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/1-002 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/1-003 | 1/8 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-004 | 1/8 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-005 | 5/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-006 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-007 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-008 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-009 | 5/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-010 | 3/8 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-011 | 1/32 | 3 x 7 | |
| M83420/1-012 | 3/64 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/1-013 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-014 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/1-015 | 9/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2 | Stainless, Non Jacketed | Type I, Comp B | |
| Government Designation |
Diameter |
Construction |
|
| M83420/2-001 | 1/32 | 3 x 7 | |
| M83420/2-002 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/2-003 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-004 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-005 | 1/8 | 7x19 | |
| M83420/2-006 | 5/32 | 7x19 | |
| M83420/2-007 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-008 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-009 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-010 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-011 | 9/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-012 | 5/16 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-013 | 3/8 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/2-014 | 3/64 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/2-015 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | |
| M83420/2-016 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | |
| M83420/3 | Galvanized, Jacketed | Type II Comp A | |
|
|
|
|
|
| Government Designation |
Diameter |
Construction |
Diameter after jacket |
| M83420/3-001 | 3/64 | 7 x 7 | 1/16 |
| M83420/3-002 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | 1/8 |
| M83420/3-003 | 1/8 | 7 x 19 | 5/32 |
| M83420/3-004 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | 3/16 |
| M83420/3-007 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | 3/64 |
| M83420/3-008 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | 1/16 |
| M83420/3-009 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | 5/64 |
| M83420/3-010 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | 3/32 |
| M83420/3-011 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | 3/32 |
| M83420/3-012 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/3-013 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/3-014 | 5/32 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/3-015 | 5/23 | 7 x 19 | 5/32 |
| M83420/3-016 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | 7/32 |
| M83420/3-017 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | 9/32 |
| M83420/3-018 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | 11/32 |
| M83420/3-019 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | 5/16 |
| M83420/3-020 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | 3/8 |
| M83420/3-021 | 9/32 | 7 x 19 | 13/32 |
| M83420/3-022 | 5/16 | 7 x 19 | 7/16 |
| M83420/3-023 | 3/8 | 7 x 19 | 1/2 |
| M83420/4 | Stainless, Jacketed | Type II Comp B |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Government Designation |
Diameter |
Construction |
Diameter after jacket |
| M83420/4-001 | 3/64 | 7 x 7 | 1/16 |
| M83420/4-002 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | 3/32 |
| M83420/4-003 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/4-004 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/4-005 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | 1/4 |
| M83420/4-006 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | 5/16 |
| M83420/4-007 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | 5/16 |
| M83420/4-008 | 1/32 | 3 x 7 | 3/64 |
| M83420/4-009 | 3/64 | 7 x 7 | 5/64 |
| M83420/4-010 | 1/16 | 7 x 7 | 1/8 |
| M83420/4-011 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | 3/32 |
| M83420/4-012 | 1/16 | 7 x 19 | 1/8 |
| M83420/4-013 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | 1/8 |
| M83420/4-014 | 3/32 | 7 x 7 | 5/32 |
| M83420/4-015 | 3/32 | 7 x 19 | 5/32 |
| M83420/4-016 | 1/8 | 7 x 19 | 3/16 |
| M83420/4-017 | 5/32 | 7 x 19 | 7/32 |
| M83420/4-018 | 5/32 | 7 x 19 | 9/32 |
| M83420/4-019 | 3/16 | 7 x 19 | 5/16 |
| M83420/4-020 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | 9/32 |
| M83420/4-021 | 7/32 | 7 x 19 | 11/32 |
| M83420/4-022 | 1/4 | 7 x 19 | 3/8 |
| M83420/4-023 | 9/32 | 7 x 19 | 13/32 |
| M83420/4-024 | 5/16 | 7 x 19 | 7/16 |
| M83420/4-025 | 3/8 | 7 x 19 | 1/2 |
Visit LoosCo.com to download a PDF of this reference guide
A few things to keep in mind before I finish:
1. This is just a reference guide. You should always refer to the actual QPL-83420 on the LoosCo.com web site for the current Government Designations of Military Specification Stainless and Galvanized Aircraft Cable; and
2. The Government designation can refer to the same cable but in different put-ups and/or jacket diameters. When in doubt, call a Loos & Co., Inc Product manager with the description of the aircraft cable you need and we can provide you with the cross referenced call out and complete product information