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MIL-T-43435, Type V – Polyester Lacing Cord/Tape for Harness Installation
Available now on the Airparts.aero Marketplace.
Overview
This is a high-performance, military-standard polyester lacing tape, engineered for the critical task of fabricating and securing electrical wire harnesses in all types of aircraft. Manufactured in strict accordance with the MIL-T-43435, Type V specification, this is not a simple string; it is a specialized braided cord designed to provide a secure, vibration-proof, and chafe-resistant method of bundling electrical wires. Its high tensile strength and excellent knot retention make it the industry-standard material for creating neat, durable, and airworthy wiring installations, a process known as "lacing."
Key Features
- High-Strength Polyester Braid: Braided from high-tenacity polyester (Dacron®) yarn. This material provides exceptional tensile strength with very low stretch, ensuring that the harness remains tightly bundled over its service life without sagging or loosening.
- Superior Knot Retention: Typically finished with a micro-crystalline wax or a synthetic rubber coating. This finish provides excellent knot-holding characteristics, ensuring that the specialized knots used in harness lacing will not slip or unravel, even under severe, continuous vibration.
- Abrasion & Chafe Resistance: When properly applied, lacing tape creates a harness that is highly resistant to chafing. The soft, braided tape is far less likely to cut into wire insulation compared to hard plastic cable ties ("zip ties"), which are prohibited in many aerospace applications.
- Fluid & Fungus Resistant: The polyester material and finish are inherently resistant to degradation from common aerospace fluids (oils, hydraulic fluid) and are fungus-resistant, ensuring the long-term integrity of the harness in the harsh airframe environment.
- Military Standard Certified: As a certified MIL-T-43435 product, it guarantees the material, strength, and finish required for use in certified aircraft, military, and space applications.
Technical Specifications
- Standard: MIL-T-43435, Type V (Polyester)
- Example Part Number: M43435/5-3-9
- Component Type: Flat Braided Lacing Tape
- Material: High-Tenacity Polyester (Dacron®)
- Finish: Wax or Synthetic Rubber (Finish C)
- Common Size: Size 3 (Approx. 0.085 inches width)
- Tensile Strength: High (e.g., ~50 lbs for Size 3)
- Operating Temperature Range: Approx. -100°F to +350°F (-73°C to 177°C)
- 1 Roll = 36,000 inches
Aircraft Compatibility
Polyester lacing tape is a universal component used in the original manufacturing and subsequent repair/modification of the electrical systems on virtually all aircraft ever built.
- Common Aircraft Platforms:
- Textron Aviation (Cessna & Beechcraft)
- Piper, Cirrus, Diamond
- Bombardier, Gulfstream, Dassault Falcon
- Boeing, Airbus
- All military and experimental aircraft.
- Common Applications:
- Fabricating main airframe and engine wiring harnesses.
- Securing wires to connectors and backshells.
- Bundling and routing wires in avionics racks and behind instrument panels.
Applications
This lacing tape is an essential consumable for any avionics technician or A&P mechanic:
- Avionics Installation: The professional standard for creating new wiring harnesses for avionics upgrades.
- Wire Repair & Maintenance: Used to properly secure and repair sections of existing wire harnesses.
- Compliance with Airworthiness Standards: The specified method for bundling wires in many areas of an aircraft, as detailed in FAA Advisory Circular AC 43.13-1B.
Why Choose MIL-T-43435 Lacing Tape?
Wire chafing is a leading cause of electrical system failures and in-flight fires. Plastic cable ties create hard pressure points that, under vibration, can easily cut through wire insulation. Lacing with MIL-T-43435 polyester tape distributes the clamping force evenly and provides a soft, secure bundle that protects the wiring. Using the certified material ensures the tape has the required strength and won't degrade over time. For a safe, professional, and airworthy wiring job, lacing tape is the only acceptable method in many critical areas.
Order Your Lacing Tape Now
Ensure your electrical and avionics installations are safe, professional, and airworthy with certified materials. Visit Airparts.aero to order your MIL-T-43435 polyester lacing tape today.
The art of wire harness lacing involves using a continuous strand of MIL-T-43435 tape to apply a series of running stitches and clove-hitch knots along the length of a wire bundle. At each breakout or branch, a specific knotting technique is used to provide strain relief and secure the junction. This continuous lacing provides several engineering advantages over individual cable ties. It creates a semi-rigid bundle that is self-supporting, reducing the need for numerous clamps. It also provides superior protection against high-frequency, low-amplitude vibration, as the knots dampen movement along the entire length of the harness, preventing the individual wires from abrading against each other or the surrounding structure.
Note: This is a professional consumable supply. Proper lacing techniques and knotting are required for an airworthy installation. Refer to FAA AC 43.13-1B, Chapter 11, for detailed guidance on accepted wire lacing methods. Always ensure hands are clean during lacing to avoid contaminating the harness.
1 RL = 91440CM
