Did you know Airplanes are Faraday cages? They can still fly after being hit by lightening.

2015-08-23T15:12:50-04:00

Apparently a plane can still take off and fly after being hit by lightening.

Kind of scary....to me anyway.

http://roadwarriorvoices.com/2015/08/20/watch-lightning-strike-this-delta-flight-while-it-waits-to-take-off-in-atlanta/

Watch lightning strike this Delta flight while it waits to take off in Atlanta

A passenger filming during a weather-related ground hold captured this incredible video of lightning striking a Delta plane in Atlanta.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Aug 23 at 2015 3:23 PM

2015-08-23T15:23:51-04:00

Interesting... did a little research and learned that "...the last confirmed civilian plane crash in the U.S. directly attributed to lightning was in 1967, when a bolt caused a catastrophic fuel tank explosion, according to Lightning Technologies..." and that the chances of this happening now with the advances in aviation technology is basically non-existent; it would almost have to be an extreme exceptional set of circumstances for a lightning strike alone to bring down a passenger airliner... That's a good thing to know!

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Aug 23 at 2015 4:45 PM

2015-08-23T16:45:52-04:00

Yep, they have decent protections against lightning. It can still do some damage in some cases though and should be avoided.

Response by MSgt Robert Pellam made Aug 23 at 2015 9:36 PM

2015-08-23T21:36:56-04:00

Awesome post.

Yes I did. I was an AF Aircraft Structural Maintainer for 21 years. I worked on 13 different Aircraft models from fighters and helicopters, to medium and large cargo aircraft.

Each Aircraft is designed to withstand not only Lightning but withstand and discharge static electricity from the Friction of flying through the air.

For the newer composite aircraft, a wire mesh is placed into some of the layers of the composit flight controls and other components to protect the aircraft from lightning and adverse electrical charges. Lightning strikes can cause damage, usually burn holes, or small puncture in different components. After a strike there is a inspection checklist that is gone through to ensure safety of flight. After landing, maintainers have there own inspection checklists to ensure there is not damage, or the damage is located and correct.

Pilots still try to avoid storms but sometimes it can not be helped.