On the subject of lightning strikes I ran into Geoff Boot (of Flyer) at Sun 'n Fun a few years ago and he told a story about his twin cessna taking a lightning strike while he was ferrying it back to the UK after he first bought it in South America. The electrics took the brunt of the strike but the aircraft flew on just fine til he could make a precautionary landing. Took some time to get the fried wiring out and iron out the problems but he eventually got it sorted.
I also understand that airliners are expected to be able to soak the odd lightning bolt up and take it in their stride. I would be interested in how the new composite boeing gets over the problem of conductivity.
Carbon fibre/composite (I recognise that there are differences Rod1 but basically non-metal) is undoubtedly stronger, fatigues better and is less maintenance intensive than metal - however I would like to see what a cirrus does in the Top Gear lightning simulator. I had heard of the metallic conducting mesh, I wonder what circumstances it has been tested in?
Anyway, surely if the Cirrus were a perm maker
(static problems) Angelina's hair would be curly? Perhaps she flies with straightening tongs permanently plugged in?
SB