The only lightning strike that I experienced during my 31 year career occured about 15 years ago when flying a B-727-100 from Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina to Greensboro, N.C. Early morning departure, climbing thru 3000'. The thunder clap was awesome! After assuring the pax that the aircraft was not damaged in any way, and admitting that it scared us as well, we proceeded to GSO. The required mx inspection revealed a thumb-sized hole in the metal strap that retains the position light on the top of the T-tail. BTW, the FAA mandates a "Lightning Strike Report".
EBD.