PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Jetstar Dreamliner grounded after significant lightning damage
Old 18th May 2022, 02:55
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Station Zero
 
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Not the first time a 787 has had a splash of lightning like this, won't be the last. The heating effect is probably the main issue as will lead to the delamination of the carbon fiber.

Individual fasteners may be able to be treated fairly similar to metallic aircraft and replaced.

The skin areas can either have a bolted titanium repair or the more expensive option of a composite flush repair.

The area in the video is a full barrel section, no panels to bond essentially in the traditional sense, there is lightning strike protection but if the energy is sufficient damage with eventuate.

Carbon fiber isn't the best conductor of electricity, which is why instead of using the structure for current return as on metallic aircraft the 787 has a Current Return Network as well.

Static wicks by the way are to bleed off static rather than to handle lightning strikes, just so happens sometimes they are blown off when the path the lightning takes is through one.
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