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Lightning
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What happens when Lightning strikes on aircraft
What happens when Lightning strikes an aircraft?
Lightning strike on Aircraft
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Aircraft Lighting strike: - Wikimedia |
Imagine you are in flight. And suddenly weather turns stormy. A lightning bolt struck on your aircraft. What will happen? Will you aircraft blast and crash?
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Pan Am flight 214 - Wikimedia |
But on 8th December 1963, Lightning struck on Pan Am flight 214(Shown in the picture above). And this flight with 81 on board crashed near Elkton, Maryland. This crash killed all 81. Actually what happened was lightning stricken on the fuel tank of the aircraft, causing burning of the fuel and wing broken. Aircraft lost its control. So after that incident aircraft, fuel tanks are protected by thick layer so lightning cannot damage it.
(Pan Am flight 214 Crash)
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Pan Am flight 214 crash - Wikimedia |
There are many modifications in today's aircraft. Today aircraft are manufactured in such a way that they can survive a lightning strike. Do you know even Aircraft itself produces lightning when it travels through clouds?
Static electrical buildup due to the friction between air and surface of the aircraft. The air friction separate electrons from atoms. It is same as rubbing balloon produces a static charge. Hence, the static wicks are used which provides pointed structure where air flow leaves aircraft surface. And additional charge flows away from the aircraft into the air.
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Aircraft Static wicks - Wikimedia |
Modern aircraft are made up of non-conducting material Carbon Fibre. So when Lightning strikes on such material this material resist current from flowing through it. And such massive electrical energy of lightning gets converted into heat energy & material burns. Hence such material is embedded with conducting material such as Aluminum. So when Lightning strikes, it flows through this material & protects aircraft from burning. This principle is same as that of Faraday's cage.
To protect aircraft electrical circuits from lightning, Aircraft circuits are grounded. Also, surge suppression device is used for protection.
So don't worry about a lightning strike on Aircraft while traveling in stormy weather.