Lightning strikes
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: uk
fireflybob's query....
I seem to recall a USAF Lockheed C-141 crashed on approach to Mildenhall,Suffolk UK after being struck by lightning................That's a big airlifter to be bought down by a bolt of lightning.
Don't know if the lightning strike resulted in a complete electrical failure which subsequently caused the crash......Anyone?
I seem to recall a USAF Lockheed C-141 crashed on approach to Mildenhall,Suffolk UK after being struck by lightning................That's a big airlifter to be bought down by a bolt of lightning.
Don't know if the lightning strike resulted in a complete electrical failure which subsequently caused the crash......Anyone?
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Timbukthree
sec 3
I can't speculate on the cause of PULKOVO TU-154 crash
at this time.
The Pan Am 707 was WX radar equipped and in a holding pattern with 5 other aircraft when it was struck by lightning. The old Maritime Central DC-4, CF-MCF, did not have WX radar, sadly. Photo of sister ship
CF-MCB taken one month before crash. Link:
http://us.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/photos/photos/2/3/8/0009832.jpg
Photo of a PULKOVO TU-154:
http://www.auctiontransportation.com...00122448_1.JPG
at this time.
The Pan Am 707 was WX radar equipped and in a holding pattern with 5 other aircraft when it was struck by lightning. The old Maritime Central DC-4, CF-MCF, did not have WX radar, sadly. Photo of sister ship
CF-MCB taken one month before crash. Link:
http://us.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!/photos/photos/2/3/8/0009832.jpg
Photo of a PULKOVO TU-154:
http://www.auctiontransportation.com...00122448_1.JPG
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Timbukthree
fireflybob
Further to lightning strikes, checkout the link to the Atmospheric Science hall display at the University of Albany, NY. Note the 3 cm hole in the wing tip made by the lightning bolt.
www.deas.albany.edu/deas/bvonn/707wingt.html
Sister ship N710PA photo taken at New York Int'l (pre JFK) early 1960s:
http://members.tripod.com/~psa188/photos/ia9547.JPG
www.deas.albany.edu/deas/bvonn/707wingt.html
Sister ship N710PA photo taken at New York Int'l (pre JFK) early 1960s:
http://members.tripod.com/~psa188/photos/ia9547.JPG
Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 1,264
Likes: 57
From: Surrey, UK ;
Crash after Lightning Strikes
The two occasions I can certainly recall lightning being a direct cause of a crash were a glider at Dunstable Downs and a Puma in the North Sea. Both were as a result of lightning striking and destroying composite materials and both a re well reported on the AAIB site.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Hounslow, Middlesex, UK
From memory you can add the Iranian Air Force 747 which crashed on approach to Madrid and a Peruvian L188 Electra to the list of aircraft lost following an explosion in the ullage following a lightning strike and I'm sure there must be others. I also seem to remember a Brasilia or some other similar comuter type being lost in Belgium (?) after it lost its electrics following a lightning strike. However, I think it is purely speculation that a lightning strike has had anything to do with this accident. The reports of severe turbulence might be a more interesting area for speculation.
repoted lightning strike just took down a Russian airliner,
Psychophysiological entity
Joined: Jun 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,383
Likes: 169
From: Walton on the Naze Essex.
We had a 4" hole punched into the top of a Viscount wing, it went round the fuel and out of a hole that was in line with the top hole.
I saw the bolt come out of the top of a CB a mile or so above us, and zig-zag down. The bang was almost unblievable.
I saw the bolt come out of the top of a CB a mile or so above us, and zig-zag down. The bang was almost unblievable.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,774
Likes: 350
From: UK
Originally Posted by Doors to Automatic
Does anyone know if aircraft can withstand a positive-charge lightning strike?
(this is much rarer than most lightning which is negative-charge but around 10 times stronger).
(this is much rarer than most lightning which is negative-charge but around 10 times stronger).
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 305
Likes: 0
From: Richmond Texas
The strike has to be ground-aircraft-air or air-aircraft-ground or air-aircraft-air. The aircraft cannot be the terminating point of the strike unless, of course, it's on the ground. The laws of physics never sleep!
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
After an excellent landing you can use the airplane again!
