737-800 winglets
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: shanghai
737-800 winglets
hey all, i have a fleet of 737-800 with beautiful blends in my company.
but after one year operation, we found that this aircraft is much easier to get lightening strike compared to the -800 with no blends.
i am guessing is that because the -800 with blends has 2 static discharger on each wing tip? less than the -800 without the blends which it have 3 static dischargers on each wing tip.
do you have the same situation in your companies?
but after one year operation, we found that this aircraft is much easier to get lightening strike compared to the -800 with no blends.
i am guessing is that because the -800 with blends has 2 static discharger on each wing tip? less than the -800 without the blends which it have 3 static dischargers on each wing tip.
do you have the same situation in your companies?
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,349
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From: FUBAR
I'll second that, but if I remember well they were just as bad before we started to receive/refit winglets.
In any case they are several scales worse than classic (300/400/500) in my experience, why? the engineers have no clue either , they just know that they are often called to patch/repaint burn holes.
In any case they are several scales worse than classic (300/400/500) in my experience, why? the engineers have no clue either , they just know that they are often called to patch/repaint burn holes.
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,507
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From: last time I looked I was still here.
Search for it, but I asked the question a while ago about why the -800 wingtips do not have the static wicks on the their tips but on the end of the hard wing surface. I can't remember all the responses. Perhaps this has some effect.
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 310
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From: Australia
Citizensun,
It has nothing to do with the winglets. Also the static discharge wicks do not stop an aircraft from being hit by lightning as you allude to by the number of wicks. They merely provide a point of static discharge on aircraft (lightning being one instance of increasing the value of which) to atmosphere.
The placement of the wicks is all to do with the construction materials used in the manufacture of the winglets, and their ability to conduct electrical charges.
GB
It has nothing to do with the winglets. Also the static discharge wicks do not stop an aircraft from being hit by lightning as you allude to by the number of wicks. They merely provide a point of static discharge on aircraft (lightning being one instance of increasing the value of which) to atmosphere.
The placement of the wicks is all to do with the construction materials used in the manufacture of the winglets, and their ability to conduct electrical charges.
GB
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 71
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From: FL350
Hi,
Static wicks are not used for lightning protection, they are more to discharge static electricity, and can be used as good indications if airplane was hit by lightning.
Link
Static Discharge Wicks
Sorry jes realized, GB has already explained what my point was. My bad!
Static wicks are not used for lightning protection, they are more to discharge static electricity, and can be used as good indications if airplane was hit by lightning.
Link
Static Discharge Wicks
Sorry jes realized, GB has already explained what my point was. My bad!
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 70
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From: shanghai
GB thanks,
i was told the static charger discharging the static has two benefits,
one is it can reduce the interference with the radios etc.
the second is it reduce the electric potential difference on the aircraft surface,then reduce the possibility of being hit by the lightening.
i don`t know if it`s true or not, please shed some light on it~
i was told the static charger discharging the static has two benefits,
one is it can reduce the interference with the radios etc.
the second is it reduce the electric potential difference on the aircraft surface,then reduce the possibility of being hit by the lightening.
i don`t know if it`s true or not, please shed some light on it~
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 310
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From: Australia
Correct, The wicks do discharge the continuous buildup of static electricity an aircraft generates moving at high speed, and assists prevent interference with the communication systems.
Many aircraft types have flown in similar weather and I can not explain why the NG seems to get hammered by lightning where others dont, but it does happen.
If point two was the case you would see a lot more wicks on modern aircraft.
GB
Many aircraft types have flown in similar weather and I can not explain why the NG seems to get hammered by lightning where others dont, but it does happen.
If point two was the case you would see a lot more wicks on modern aircraft.
GB
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,188
Likes: 6
From: La Belle Province
I seem to recall being told that there are some very specific geometric parameters - sweep angles, nose/tip/tail distances, and so on - which can significantly affect lightning strike rates. It may be that the 737-800 is one of the "unlucky" types which has hit the "sweet spot" for being a lightning attractor.
