http://www.crh.noaa.gov/pub/ltg/plane_japan.php


Check out the above link for a neat set of photos of a plane taking a lightning strike! Incredible, don't know if pilot returned to land after this, I think I would.

cheers


PS looks like a Boeing Jumbo Jet, hump on the front of the fuselage gives it away. Since the plane made it, I say "If it aint' Boeing, I aint' going."

Gnarly. I had lightning strike a crane 50 yards away from me in Colorado few years back. Scared the shit out of me.

that actually happens quite frequently.
all commercial airliners are build to withstand a lighting strike just like that one ...

cool pictures! scary stuff ...
Andy

Ahhhh, no problem matey, but the in-flight meals were actually hot when served!

the lightning runs through the skin of the airframe, which is basically a big Farraday cage for the occupants.

friend of mine was a Captain on a JAL 747 when it was struck in flight. he says NBD, airliners get hit about once a year (each airplane...). the pax, mostly elderly Japanese headed to vacations in Hawaii, become agitated, and he's right in the middle of a cockpit announcement telling them all it's no big deal, everything is fine - when the aircraft gets another hit to the tail - and his surprised scream at the jolt he took through the rudder pedals did little to actually calm the passengers...