Ana 744

By: Hardman 1 - 11th August 2003 at 01:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

That looks terrible. It must have been very scary if you were in the plane. I have always wondered what happens to a plane when it gets struck. Does it have to make an emergency landing, or is it fine to keep on flying? I was thinking about this when i was in a thunderstorm on AA from STL to COS

By: wysiwyg - 11th August 2003 at 01:42 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The design of the aircraft fuselage is an almost perfect Faraday Cage, protecting the occupants from the strike. On most occasions, the lightning passes straight round the structure with no damage, bar a small singe at the point of entry and the point of exit.

By: Whiskey Delta - 11th August 2003 at 02:19 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Earlier this summer the aircraft we were suppose to take out was hit on it's arrival to the airport. We couldn't find the entry point but the lightning had punched a 2 inch hole in the skin as it exited the tail. We opted not to fly out on that aircraft. Later I heard that the lightning had broken most of the cables for the rear control surfaces. Now that's a little scary.

By: KabirT - 11th August 2003 at 10:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

ya seen that before...not a very nice experience it is.