by Allen | Apr 16, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
A United flight from San Francisco to London returned to SF after suffering a lightning strike. Reports indicate that, although the aircraft was not significantly damaged, the oxygen masks in the cabin deployed. The unlucky passengers has to find another way to London. See the news article here: http://avherald.com/h?article=44df03ce&opt=0″ title=”United...
by Allen | Apr 16, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
Grateful Dead archivist David Lemieux was on recently flight from Las Vegas to Victoria, Canada when the WestJet aircraft he was flying in was struck by lightning. Lemieux states that the strike was very bright and loud but the aircraft safely made its way to Victoria. Read the full news article here:...
by Allen | Apr 5, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
Scary video from Florida which highlights the dangers of lightning. A couple of shoppers were temporarily paralyzed as lightning struck near their truck. The victim stated that there was no signs of lightning before the strike (no rain, or thunder). This, unfortunately, is the case in many lightning injuries. See the video...
by Allen | Feb 20, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
Scientists from the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH) are supporting the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to develop rules for launching spacecraft during cloudy or stormy conditions. The JAXA currently implements NASA restrictions regarding threatening conditions to prevent a lightning strike to the spacecraft during launch. In 1969 NASA’s Apollo 12 rocket was struck during launch and without the quick thinking of the Apollo crew, the flight probably would have been aborted (see video here: NASA Apollo 12 Lightning Strike Video). The Japanese weather patterns are considerably different from those in Florida and when the JAXA uses the NASA rules, many days are lost when rockets could possibly be launched from the JAXA facility. JAXA recently purchased an instrumented Cessna Citation jet to study the electrification of clouds over Japan. The UAH scientist will assist Japanese scientist as they fly the instrumented aircraft through cloud formations to determine the amount of electrification within the clouds. From these measurements, the JAXA will create a set of launch rules that help minimize lost launch opportunities. See the full news report here:...
by Allen | Feb 6, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
The U.S. government vehicle, shown below, was hit by lightning during a January thunderstorm in Georgia. Severe strikes to cars are rare but are usually fatal to the vehicle. The occupants are fortunate to walk away. U. S. Air Force photos, by Raymond...
by Allen | Feb 2, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
This new video from Japan shows the landing and subsequent replacement of an ANA 767-300 nose radome after it was struck by lightning. From the video it appears that lightning delaminated the side of the radome. It also looks like the lightning strike did not attach to the radome’s metal bar diverters but grabbed the aft edge of the radome. The radome was later replaced and the aircraft...
by Allen | Feb 2, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
A Frontier Airlines aircraft encountered severe weather on a flight from Little Rock, AR to Denver, CO. Reports indicate that the aircraft was struck twice by lightning and hail cracked one of the cockpit windscreens. The flight landed safely in Kansas City where passengers headed to the nearest pub. See news of the flight here:...
by Allen | Jan 29, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
A Seneca, South Carolina home owner was surprised Saturday afternoon by a lightning strike which hit his home. Unfortunately, the lightning appears to have attached to the power meter next to his parked Toyota. The strike created an explosion underneath the car which flipped the car onto its roof. Unbelievable. See the full news story and the photos below....
by Allen | Jan 29, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
An EasyJet Airbus A320 was struck while on approach to land in Manchester, UK. The aircraft performed a go-around to check on the aircraft systems and then landed safely. See the full news report here:...
by Allen | Jan 24, 2012 | Lightning Protection |
Terrific new video from the International Space Station. As the station passes over Africa, multiple lightning strikes can been seen through the clouds as the Milky way is seen in the distance. Click the link below to view the video. milkyway_iss_20111229HD_web Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. “The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of...
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