8/11/2005: Lightning strikes airliner (with animation link)

Undertoad · 08-11-2005, 11:29 AM

Some time ago xoB sent along a set of animated GIFs of lightning striking a All Nippon Airlines jet. I kept them around as I often do with submissions, until I could take the time to figure out how to present it. The animated GIF images of this are the real excitement, which are too large (about 400K each) to link directly for those people still on modems. Plus, our connection is a little slow today.

So I'll just link them in and you can see them in a new window, if you have a good connection. The first time the animation runs it may be slow; it loops, so the second time the animation runs it will be at the correct speed.

If you are an anxious flyer you may not want to click through. It's just one more thing you'd have to worry about:

Lightning strikes jet, actual speed

Lightning strikes jet, slow motion

Troubleshooter · 08-11-2005, 11:37 AM

That's gonna leave a mark.

Bullitt · 08-11-2005, 11:51 AM

A.) I wonder what that did to the jet
B.) How many mop buckets it took to clean up 100+ people pissing themselves

Hobbs · 08-11-2005, 12:54 PM

Who is the aviator in the Cellar? What happens when you get a massive lightening strike on an aircraft this size?

Bullitt · 08-11-2005, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hobbs

Who is the aviator in the Cellar? What happens when you get a massive lightening strike on an aircraft this size?

That would be plthijinx

xoxoxoBruce · 08-11-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bullitt

A.) I wonder what that did to the jet
B.) How many mop buckets it took to clean up 100+ people pissing themselves

A - Nothing, it happens all the time.
B - They probably didn't even notice it.
Notice the lightning didn't go through the plane, it traveled from the front to the back then jumped to the ground.

capnhowdy · 08-11-2005, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

A - Nothing, it happens all the time.
B - They probably didn't even notice it.
Notice the lightning didn't go through the plane, it traveled from the front to the back then jumped to the ground.

The pissing actually starts when they look out their window after the strike and see a really fake looking "monster" crawling around on the wing.

and yes plthijinx..... I wonder....has this ever happenened to you? At what altitude? I've been researching some since lastcall and I nearly got struck a few weeks back.

Hemlock · 08-12-2005, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

A - Nothing, it happens all the time.
B - They probably didn't even notice it.
Notice the lightning didn't go through the plane, it traveled from the front to the back then jumped to the ground.

Although nothing would happen, they would notice. I can imagine the thunder would be rather loud (and somewhat frightening), considering how close they are to the lightning.

fredorpaul · 08-12-2005, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

A - Nothing, it happens all the time.
B - They probably didn't even notice it.
Notice the lightning didn't go through the plane, it traveled from the front to the back then jumped to the ground.

ahhahaha first off have you ever been near a thunder storm, and second did you see the gifs??

No trust me even if the the pax didn't see the strike they sure as hell heard and probably felt it(imagine the turbulence caused by something that can be heard several miles away???

also as someone who has seen first hand what lighting strikes can do to a plane, ill tell you right now that it left holes somewhere not to mention burnt a bunch of the little rods that are place on the end of the control surfaces for just such occasions clean off.

worst case scenario plane went down. More likely it caused the electrical systems problems and popped a couple of breakers, which the pilots can quickly correct. Seeing how it stuck it might of damaged the radar.

xoxoxoBruce · 08-12-2005, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredorpaul

ahhahaha first off have you ever been near a thunder storm, and second did you see the gifs??

No trust me even if the the pax didn't see the strike they sure as hell heard and probably felt it(imagine the turbulence caused by something that can be heard several miles away???

also as someone who has seen first hand what lighting strikes can do to a plane, ill tell you right now that it left holes somewhere not to mention burnt a bunch of the little rods that are place on the end of the control surfaces for just such occasions clean off.

worst case scenario plane went down. More likely it caused the electrical systems problems and popped a couple of breakers, which the pilots can quickly correct. Seeing how it stuck it might of damaged the radar.

Welcome to the Cellar, Fredorpaul.

I'm sure the passengers both saw the flash and heard the thunder but that doesn't mean they knew it hit the plane. It happens all the time.
These little rods on the end of the control surfaces? What surfaces? I've built leading and trailing edges for 757s and 767s and never seen them.
The plane didn't go down but you're probably right about the breakers. That's one of the reasons for so much redundancy. That's also one of the things that bothers me about the fly by wire systems that have pervaded commercial planes.
The radar domes being composite, wouldn't the lightning strike further back?

xoxoxoBruce · 08-20-2005, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fredorpaul

snip~~ not to mention burnt a bunch of the little rods that are place on the end of the control surfaces for just such occasions clean off.~~snip

I've found a picture of "the little rods" on some of the edges and engine mounts.
I'm told they are to dissipate static charge built up from the air moving over the surfaces.

wolf · 08-11-2005, 01:00 PM

You momentarily pass into another dimension slightly to the left of your expected space-time continuum.

You in that moment give birth to your own grandfather.

But only if you're male.

Cyclefrance · 08-11-2005, 05:46 PM

Now that could weald a cell phone to the side of your head - 'well, I did tell you to turn it off, Mr Yashimoto....!'

busterb · 08-11-2005, 08:13 PM

No ground= no foul

Cyclefrance · 08-12-2005, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by busterb

No ground= no foul

Well I think I heard that it had some effect - something about a passenger finding his dentures acquired a light blue tincture and that he temporarily lost hearing in both his ears following the strike. So maybe I mistook that for being a cell phone wealded to the side of his face instead of the blue tooth ear peace it really was (sorry, old fogey humour, luckily only occurs infrequently).

08-11-2005, 11:29 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	8/11/2005: Lightning strikes airliner (with animation link) Some time ago xoB sent along a set of animated GIFs of lightning striking a All Nippon Airlines jet. I kept them around as I often do with submissions, until I could take the time to figure out how to present it. The animated GIF images of this are the real excitement, which are too large (about 400K each) to link directly for those people still on modems. Plus, our connection is a little slow today. So I'll just link them in and you can see them in a new window, if you have a good connection. The first time the animation runs it may be slow; it loops, so the second time the animation runs it will be at the correct speed. If you are an anxious flyer you may not want to click through. It's just one more thing you'd have to worry about: Lightning strikes jet, actual speed Lightning strikes jet, slow motion

08-11-2005, 11:37 AM	#2
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	That's gonna leave a mark. __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

08-11-2005, 11:51 AM	#3
Bullitt This is a fully functional babe lair Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 2,324	A.) I wonder what that did to the jet B.) How many mop buckets it took to clean up 100+ people pissing themselves __________________ Kiss my white Irish ass.

08-11-2005, 12:54 PM	#4
Hobbs Professor for the school of ass-clownery Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Surprise! Posts: 404	Who is the aviator in the Cellar? What happens when you get a massive lightening strike on an aircraft this size? __________________ That's it! Send in the chimps! Last edited by Hobbs; 08-11-2005 at 12:55 PM. Reason: Can't spell whoes..whoes..aww screw it!

08-11-2005, 01:00 PM	#12
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	You momentarily pass into another dimension slightly to the left of your expected space-time continuum. You in that moment give birth to your own grandfather. But only if you're male. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

08-11-2005, 05:46 PM	#13
Cyclefrance Pump my ride! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Deep countryside of Surrey , England Posts: 1,890	Now that could weald a cell phone to the side of your head - 'well, I did tell you to turn it off, Mr Yashimoto....!'

08-11-2005, 08:13 PM	#14
busterb NSABFD Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: MS. usa Posts: 3,908	No ground= no foul __________________ I've haven't left very deep footprints in the sands of time. But, boy I've left a bunch.

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