I saw lightning strike a plane tonight!

[ophic]

Originally Posted by muddi

Would they of known they had been hit by lightening? Presume planes have some sort of err anti-lightening shield haha??
Like batfink - his wings are shields of steel!!

Faraday cage effect - they're totally enclosed by a highly conductive material, therefore no potential difference on the outside can affect the inside. Or something like that. Otherwise the fuel tanks would go pop.

Flew from city airport over to holland a few years back for work in a tiny fokker f50 and we got hit, didn't half made a loud cracking noise...

I'm usually fine with flying but I didn't enjoy the rest of that flight at all !!!

I thought it would be protected by something like that, cheers Ophic.

Just wondering if the people inside would actually know if they had been hit, any vibrations or anything that would go through the plane with it being protected?

[ophic]

Originally Posted by muddi

I thought it would be protected by something like that, cheers Ophic.

Just wondering if the people inside would actually know if they had been hit, any vibrations or anything that would go through the plane with it being protected?

I'd guess it makes a huge noise and flashes of light etc, and thunder is loud enough to be heard for miles. Brown underwear for the uninitiated.

It's a fairly common occurrence though.

Theres more on this! Turns out that single lightning bolt frazzled the stereo of my plasterer who was 3 miles away! Small world!

C