Re: FAA To Finally Ditch Floppy Disks & Win-95

On Sat, 14 Jun 2025 22:41:25 -0400, c186282 wrote:

   Nylon has been around in quantity since the 40s. Somehow I doubt it's
   qualities were 'unknown'
   in the 50s and beyond
 
   MORE likely some senator was vested in a biz that made the older
   materials.
 
   There ARE circumstances where 'natural fibers' CAN outperform
   plastics - esp at very low temperatures where the plastics become
   more brittle. However those circumstances are few. 'Natural fibers'
   also tend to hold MOISTURE - which is bad for HV electricity apps and
   can lead to mold/fungi problems.

https://www.specialized.net/installation-equipment-supplies/cable-
installation/lacing-needles-twine/trueconect-44800nat-lacing-twine-9-ply-
waxed-poly-191-yd-spool.html

I don't know what material was used in the '70s but today's lacing twine
is polyester.

I doubt any senator was a lacing twine mogul but ALS for civilian use goes
back to the '50s. Bureaucracies are reluctant to change anything. I wonder
what new controllers use? You'd probably have to prowl eBay to find Eagle
steppers now.

I don't know if the DOT regulations for commercial drivers were updated
but even in the '90s the regulations laid down in the '30s were still in
effect. If you followed them religiously you were locked into a 19 hour
cycle that played hell with circadian rhythms.