St.Elmo's Fire...?

[south coast]

I was once flying in the central African region, at night and we could see blue-ish type sparks all along the leading edge of the wings, along the props and on the windshield...was this St.Elmo's fire?
And, can anyone explain what it actually is, why it comes about and whether it is dangerous?

[JJflyer]

Yes it is St.Elmos. If you see this around your windshields call for F/A in the cockpit and ask your crew for Windshield fire checklist.

I see it quite often. Guess it is to do with static electricity.

Cheers

[Duke of Burgundy]

St Elmo`s Fire is defined as an ungrounded luminous corona visible around an object or person in humid pre-thunderstorm conditions. It is caused by a build-up of electro-static electricity and is named after an early Christian Italian bishop, Saint Erasmus (abbreviated to Sant Ermo) and adopted as patron saint of Mediterranean sailors.

It was first reported having been observed around the masts and rigging of sailing ships.

It has been blamed for igniting the fire which destroyed the Hindenburg in 1937 and possibly the York Minster fire of 1984.

It can manifest itself as an optical phenomenon called the Andes Glow where a mountain peak can glow at night, sometimes for several hours at a time.

Hope that`s enough to be going on with.

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[ 04 January 2002: Message edited by: Chrysippus ]</p>

[south coast]

thanks chaps, very interesting....actually quite pleasant to look at...almost looked like the 'sparks' on those plasma balls.

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

We once had a really good display dancing about on the windscreens of a 737 and invited the "galley slave" up for a look. She was suitably impressed. Then my first officer decided to show off and pointed his finger at it. There was a loud crack as zillions of excited ions transferred to the end of his outstretched digit. Total loss of street cred on effo's part as he then let out a great yelp, jumped six inches and desperately fanned his smoking pinkie! Stupid boy.
I've never seen it myself, but when St. Elmo's really gets up a head of steam, it can change into the rare form of ball lightning. This truly impressive phenomenon goes bouncing off down the cabin and departs out the back with a suitable loud bang. I'll bet that grabs everyone's attention!