Abstract Flexibility and a.c. characteristics of Bi-2223 Ag-sheathed multifilamentary superconducting wire (Ag-sheathed wire) were investigated for cable conductors. For the application of a power transmission cable, it is important to note the properties of the high T c superconducting (HTSC) cable conductor. Several types of flexible conductors were fabricated by spiral winding on flexible mandrel. The bending property was investigated in a 1.4 m/3-layer conductor and a 5 m/8-layer conductor. The critical current I c of the 5 m/8-layer conductor was measured under the bending strain of 1.3 m radius in liquid nitrogen. The conductor's I c was 3000 A, and the J c was 13,000 A/cm 2 . Using the 0.7 m conductor, we investigated the relation between the a.c. loss and the number of layer of the cable conductor.