Early 90s. Newly minted 747 Captain. I went through a 'phase' when I seemed to attract lightning. Must have had about 8 strikes in two years.
Approaching LHR, little 12,000 ft high thing. In Australia it would be just a nuisance Cu, hardly even Towering Cu. In UK, it's a Cb.Whump.
Leaving Melbourne in drizzly stratiform. Not a Cb within 10 miles. Whump.
Departing Sydney 16R, at night, still over Botany Bay. Whump. Whump Twice within 30 seconds. A certain Labor politician on board. Let's call him Gareth, because that indeed was his name. Must have been meant for him, we thought.
Several others. In cruise.
No damage [except an occasional scorch mark on the skin]. Certainly the -400s electronics never even blinked. Despite the AAIB's conclusion, and with no parachutes, we all survived every one.
Then for more than 20 years until retirement, not ever another one.
That's the noise it makes, "whump". Not like rolling thunder, not a crack like a whip. Just "WHUMP".