Lightning Strikes
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For those flying the type of gear that means you do the pre and post flight inspections, i.e little ones..if you find evidence of a strike (entry or exit) look a bit harder and see if you can find its mate. Rostered to fly one once that had had a lightning strike written up ,which had been cleared as OK to fly three days previously. Went looking further and found a 25mm x 2mm piece missing from trailing edge of 1 prop blade. Result, prop change required.
Also different a/c PT6 overhaul strip report, reported evidence of arcing internally. Message being, in sparky conditions/time of the year, make the DI a good one, like you always do.
Also different a/c PT6 overhaul strip report, reported evidence of arcing internally. Message being, in sparky conditions/time of the year, make the DI a good one, like you always do.
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When Lee Trevino was asked what to do when caught out on the golf course in an electrical storm, he replied "Take out your 1 iron and hold it up to the sky."
When someone said that they thought that this might be a teeny bit dangerous, the Tex-Mex replied "Nope - even God can't hit a 1 iron!!"
When someone said that they thought that this might be a teeny bit dangerous, the Tex-Mex replied "Nope - even God can't hit a 1 iron!!"
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the aaib report into a lightning strike on a glider can be found at:
http://www.open.gov.uk/aaib/dec99htm/bga3705.htm
As well as being interesting in its own right the investigator includes an extensive discussion of lighning mechanisms and effects.
[This message has been edited by Holdfast (edited 23 March 2000).]
http://www.open.gov.uk/aaib/dec99htm/bga3705.htm
As well as being interesting in its own right the investigator includes an extensive discussion of lighning mechanisms and effects.
[This message has been edited by Holdfast (edited 23 March 2000).]
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This article appeared a few weeks ago in not one of our most respectable newspapers.
CONCORDE CONTROLS KNOCKED OUT
EXCLUSIVE
By Andrew Buckwell
Daily Mirror
A Concorde came within seconds of plunging to disaster after vital controls were knocked out by freak weather.
The British Airways supersonic jet was preparing to land at Heathrow when it was engulfed in static electricity for a split second it was revealed last night.
The rare storm condition – known as St Elmo’s Fire- crippled the auto-pilot the altimeter and equipment that stabilises the aircraft.
None of the 29 passengers on board was aware of the seriousness of the problem but the crew were left "badly shaken".
The captain, co-pilot and flight engineer were forced to use manual systems to regain control.
A senior Civil Aviation Authority source said yesterday: "It appears from the report filed by the plane’s captain that for over two minutes the Concorde had no main controls and anything could have happened".
The pilot’s report said the St Elmo’s Fire had the effect of lighting up the sky around the plane in a luminous green colour.
Seconds after the static "fireworks and crew managed to regain partial control and the plane was then given clearance to land immediately at Heathrow.
"If one main system fails there is always a back-up but for all major controls to be lost at the same time is a million to one chance", said the source.
"The most important control lost was the trim, which keeps the aircraft balanced.
"Without it any plane becomes like a lead weight about to fall out of the sky. The crew were badly shaken by this experience but decided not to inform the passengers so that everyone remained calm".
Concorde has been flying commercially for more than 24 years and the jets have been hit by St Elmo’s Fire phenomenon before but previous incidents have not been serious.
A British Airways spokeswoman said: " The aircraft experienced static electricity.
"The auto pilot did disengage but this is not an issue as the aircraft is designed to fly manually. It was flown manually and landed normally"
The Concorde hit trouble as it joined the stack of planes above a section of the M25 motorway at Ockham, Surrey……………..
LIGHTNING ‘DANCES THROUGH SCREEN’
Captain Eric Moody, who has flown British Airways planes for over 20 years, told last night how terrifying it could be to fly through St Elmo’s Fire.
Captain Moody experienced the phenomenon himself while he was flying in the Philippines 18 years ago.
He said "St Elmo’s Fire is a small electrical discharge that occurs when a plane passes through the water content of a cloud. It ‘s like a series of lightning flashes, dancing through the centre of the pilot’s windscreen. It is quite spectacular." He added "In cases of this Concorde incident, I’ve never heard of St Elmo’s Fire happening so close to the ground".
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: "Thankfully the pilot was able to land the plane at Heathrow".
CONCORDE CONTROLS KNOCKED OUT
EXCLUSIVE
By Andrew Buckwell
Daily Mirror
A Concorde came within seconds of plunging to disaster after vital controls were knocked out by freak weather.
The British Airways supersonic jet was preparing to land at Heathrow when it was engulfed in static electricity for a split second it was revealed last night.
The rare storm condition – known as St Elmo’s Fire- crippled the auto-pilot the altimeter and equipment that stabilises the aircraft.
None of the 29 passengers on board was aware of the seriousness of the problem but the crew were left "badly shaken".
The captain, co-pilot and flight engineer were forced to use manual systems to regain control.
A senior Civil Aviation Authority source said yesterday: "It appears from the report filed by the plane’s captain that for over two minutes the Concorde had no main controls and anything could have happened".
The pilot’s report said the St Elmo’s Fire had the effect of lighting up the sky around the plane in a luminous green colour.
Seconds after the static "fireworks and crew managed to regain partial control and the plane was then given clearance to land immediately at Heathrow.
"If one main system fails there is always a back-up but for all major controls to be lost at the same time is a million to one chance", said the source.
"The most important control lost was the trim, which keeps the aircraft balanced.
"Without it any plane becomes like a lead weight about to fall out of the sky. The crew were badly shaken by this experience but decided not to inform the passengers so that everyone remained calm".
Concorde has been flying commercially for more than 24 years and the jets have been hit by St Elmo’s Fire phenomenon before but previous incidents have not been serious.
A British Airways spokeswoman said: " The aircraft experienced static electricity.
"The auto pilot did disengage but this is not an issue as the aircraft is designed to fly manually. It was flown manually and landed normally"
The Concorde hit trouble as it joined the stack of planes above a section of the M25 motorway at Ockham, Surrey……………..
LIGHTNING ‘DANCES THROUGH SCREEN’
Captain Eric Moody, who has flown British Airways planes for over 20 years, told last night how terrifying it could be to fly through St Elmo’s Fire.
Captain Moody experienced the phenomenon himself while he was flying in the Philippines 18 years ago.
He said "St Elmo’s Fire is a small electrical discharge that occurs when a plane passes through the water content of a cloud. It ‘s like a series of lightning flashes, dancing through the centre of the pilot’s windscreen. It is quite spectacular." He added "In cases of this Concorde incident, I’ve never heard of St Elmo’s Fire happening so close to the ground".
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said: "Thankfully the pilot was able to land the plane at Heathrow".
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Back in the days of iron men and wooden jets I was flying a new (well it was new then) Jet Commander and took a lighting hit. I was at FL 330 over the Central U.S. during early spring. I was IMC and the radar (the old green cathode-ray tube style) showed two cells about twenty miles on either side of the airplane. There was a very bright flash and a very hard jolt of turbulence. The number 1 engine flamed out, all the A.C. powered flight instruments on the left (my) side failed. When the switch to power the left side from the right side was pushed all the A.C. instruments on the right side failed. Guess what, this was before the days of standby battery flight instruments. All I could do was bring the number 2 engine to idle, raise the spoilers, put the gear down and hang on for dear life. After what seemed like two or three hours we fell out of the storm around 10,000 ft not quite inverted, rolled level and limpted into KMEM and landed. Tried to restart the #1 engeine many times with no sucess, found out why after landing. The lighting hit the #1 engine in the intake, fried both the DC gen/starter, the AC gen, burned all the wiring from the engine to the # 1 converter regulator leaving an open circuit that shorted out the #2 converter reglator when we tried to transfer power. The airplane had to be ferried back to the factory and be rewired. Thrity years and 19,000hrs later that is still my only real lighting hit. I did see a Sabreliner (T-39) land with no radar dome due to a lighting hit. Rember you can still be at the wrong place at the wrong time when it comes to T-storms.
Took a lot of scotch to get a buzz that night.
Took a lot of scotch to get a buzz that night.
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Aaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhh!
I stopped buying English newspapers about 25 years ago because of unmitigated rubbish like this!! I'm not sure which is worse; a public who keeps this rag and all the others in business by paying for them or a system which can allow such uninformed wazzocks to peddle their wares.
As for misusing Eric Moody's quote...
...and this apallingly awful collection of, otherwise, unemployables have the gall to call themselves the Fourth Estate
That's another layer of enamel gone from the teeth - grind, grind!
I stopped buying English newspapers about 25 years ago because of unmitigated rubbish like this!! I'm not sure which is worse; a public who keeps this rag and all the others in business by paying for them or a system which can allow such uninformed wazzocks to peddle their wares.
As for misusing Eric Moody's quote...
...and this apallingly awful collection of, otherwise, unemployables have the gall to call themselves the Fourth Estate
That's another layer of enamel gone from the teeth - grind, grind!
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I was on the jumpseat of a VS 747 into Newark when we had a lightning strike. What surprised me most was the noise it made - it was just like one of those old fashioned bulb cameras - a kind of 'thwump' sound.
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Have seen lots of lightning burns, most small strikes seen to leave a small raised tag of skin material where its entered and left the airframe (usually on top and bottom of the fuselage, but did have an exit burn on the bottom skin of the wing recently). Metal wing tip nav light housings are also good exit points, leaving deformed/melted areas and crazed or cracked light lenses.
Any one got any tales of severe hail damage!! I worked a 737 not that long ago that had all 6 l/e slats peppered with hailstone damage but no evidence anywhere else on the airframe of hail. A friend told me of a severe storm that hit a Spanish airfield where Bae ATP's were being stored/maintained, and that some of the damage was so bad that upper fuselage skin panels had to be changed !
Any one got any tales of severe hail damage!! I worked a 737 not that long ago that had all 6 l/e slats peppered with hailstone damage but no evidence anywhere else on the airframe of hail. A friend told me of a severe storm that hit a Spanish airfield where Bae ATP's were being stored/maintained, and that some of the damage was so bad that upper fuselage skin panels had to be changed !
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Dont confuse "ball lightning" and the "glowing ball" following a lightning strike as they are two different phenomena. The "glowing ball" following a LS is simply ionised gas with little current ( ******all amps). I have heard of experienced cabin-crew jumping over it on it's way down the cabin (it usualy occurs at floor level) with little fear of an electric shock!
However, my favourite remains the old-boy I flew with many years ago who had a great theory about WX radar and reducing lightning strikes. He swore he had more lightning strikes with the radar turned on than he ever did with it turned off. He believed the radar sent out a leader which attracted the main stroke. As a result he said " You're better off turning the bloody thing off when there's a thunderstorm around " .....and I thought he was joking
Finally, anyone else seen lightning being discarged vertical upwards from a Cb? I thought lightning either went Cloud-Cloud or Cloud-Ground, this bolt just disappeared going upwards.
However, my favourite remains the old-boy I flew with many years ago who had a great theory about WX radar and reducing lightning strikes. He swore he had more lightning strikes with the radar turned on than he ever did with it turned off. He believed the radar sent out a leader which attracted the main stroke. As a result he said " You're better off turning the bloody thing off when there's a thunderstorm around " .....and I thought he was joking
Finally, anyone else seen lightning being discarged vertical upwards from a Cb? I thought lightning either went Cloud-Cloud or Cloud-Ground, this bolt just disappeared going upwards.
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There are two sorts of lightning which ascend vertically from clouds. Watched a program on it the other day...one sort called "jets" i think and dont remember the other one...maybe"sprites"?? dont know! They apparently reach thousands of feet into the atmosphere and there was something else about ozone gas i think. sorry to be so vague but guess it sorta answers the question!
Psychophysiological entity
I've been interested in sprites since they were first observed, and one night phoned a physicist at the BBC who was there to answer questions about the phenomenon. I put it to him that there was enough energy in the core of a "bolt" to have a collapsing field energizing the gas/vapor stem in a manner similar to lasers. He said some word that sounded like rollocks, but after some argument, went sort of thoughtful but non-committal after I protested that there was such a surfeit of energy that the lens could be very primitive; made up of rain drops or ionized gas. There has to be some answer for these jets reaching the outer limits of the atmosphere. I have often wondered what it would be like to have one hit the belly of an aircraft....just when you were feeling smug about being way above the storm.
Sorry to be alarmist, but any assurance you may get from thinking there are no amps around in lightning, is unfounded. To do work you need power, the product of volts and amps. There is a lot known about the voltage sheer across a large bolt. The core can be only 4 inches across, with zero to multi thousands of volts per inch of radius typical. Where plasma is created...well, how hot is a welding arc?
I would guess, to get real current flow and do damage, the conducting path has to be optimized, that is, take the worst possible route, say cloud - aircraft - ground. In the worst possible scenario, there is no real reason why the aircraft should not be very seriously damaged; that sort of energy is certainly available. Thank God, the conditions are hardly ever met to do more than spray out of typical hot-spots, with minor burning.
As a young Viscount F/O I got such a thrashing one night (pre-radar days ) that I almost quit flying. Horizon bar off the dial, down below MSA over the Pyrenees, and so much hail noise that it drowned I/C and R/T totally. It just seemed to go on forever...but had a funny ending. After popping out into post frontal air somewhere near Toulouse, the skipper said he was shattered and asked me to fly. He put a cigaret in his mouth and held his Zippo up to his face before lighting it. The very instant he spun the wheel, there was the most horrendous bang and the aircraft shook violently. That was in the mid sixties, and I still have this clear image of his bulging eyes, beautifully illuminated by the little flame, staring over a crumpled cigaret.
There was a four inch hole in the wing, and the odd thing was that the energy went round the fuel bags and out through the bottom surface in line with the entry point. It seems that there is a very definite path laid out by the pre-curser charge line.
It seems that several people are convinced about lightning balls. I recall an incident on a Courtline BAC 1-11 circa 1970, very similar description. There was one guy in the UK who had a stack of submarine batteries and shorted them out for a second on a huge pendulous knife switch, in an attempt to replicate a ball. It looked very unconvincing. I think that they still remain a mystery.
Sorry to be alarmist, but any assurance you may get from thinking there are no amps around in lightning, is unfounded. To do work you need power, the product of volts and amps. There is a lot known about the voltage sheer across a large bolt. The core can be only 4 inches across, with zero to multi thousands of volts per inch of radius typical. Where plasma is created...well, how hot is a welding arc?
I would guess, to get real current flow and do damage, the conducting path has to be optimized, that is, take the worst possible route, say cloud - aircraft - ground. In the worst possible scenario, there is no real reason why the aircraft should not be very seriously damaged; that sort of energy is certainly available. Thank God, the conditions are hardly ever met to do more than spray out of typical hot-spots, with minor burning.
As a young Viscount F/O I got such a thrashing one night (pre-radar days ) that I almost quit flying. Horizon bar off the dial, down below MSA over the Pyrenees, and so much hail noise that it drowned I/C and R/T totally. It just seemed to go on forever...but had a funny ending. After popping out into post frontal air somewhere near Toulouse, the skipper said he was shattered and asked me to fly. He put a cigaret in his mouth and held his Zippo up to his face before lighting it. The very instant he spun the wheel, there was the most horrendous bang and the aircraft shook violently. That was in the mid sixties, and I still have this clear image of his bulging eyes, beautifully illuminated by the little flame, staring over a crumpled cigaret.
There was a four inch hole in the wing, and the odd thing was that the energy went round the fuel bags and out through the bottom surface in line with the entry point. It seems that there is a very definite path laid out by the pre-curser charge line.
It seems that several people are convinced about lightning balls. I recall an incident on a Courtline BAC 1-11 circa 1970, very similar description. There was one guy in the UK who had a stack of submarine batteries and shorted them out for a second on a huge pendulous knife switch, in an attempt to replicate a ball. It looked very unconvincing. I think that they still remain a mystery.
