OK here are a few basics......
If an a/c is hit in the air the charge takes the route to static discharge wicks on the wing/fin/stab trailing edge and is dissapated there.
If you are on the ground and get struck apart from the route through the ground engineers headset/ears/brain/boots! the charge earths through the u/c...but, I hear you say the tyres are rubber and this should insulate the a/c. Good point, but, the tyres have graphite in the rubber which conducts the charge to earth.
In the US I understand that if there is an electrical storm all personel are to stay away from the a/c.....No such luck in europe where we just dodge the lightning!!
Love
Le Pen
PS Yeah sorry about that... I should have said it takes the most direct route out through the skin...Residual charge is lost through static wicks why else do we replace them so frequently if they are not used.
Even 777s are not immune...I had a 2 inch hole in the lwr fuse at ORY a while back.
[This message has been edited by Le Pen (edited 27 May 1999).]
[This message has been edited by Le Pen (edited 29 May 1999).]