As I understand it, there are several "zones" on an aircraft that are more
likely to get hit than others (while in flight, anyway). These are the
extremities of the aircraft: nose, tail, wingtips, etc. The best way to
protect an aircraft from damage due to lightning strike is to provide a path
on the outer surface of the aircraft for the energy to dissapate. On metal
airplanes this is as simple as making sure all control surfaces are grounded
(ground?) to the wing/tail, wing/tail are grounded to the fuselage, engine is
grounded to engine mount, engine mount is grounded to fuselage, etc.

For composite airplanes you want some kind of fine wire (aluminum) screen
mesh in one of the layers closest to the outer surface. I think carbon is
conductive to a certain degree but the wire will greatly improve things
further even for carbon. Carbon fiber prepreg IS available with the wire mesh
woven in. I'm sure it is more expensive - the other downside to the
manufacturer is that it can be harder to get the stuff to lay down in a mold
properly.

If you don't have some means for dissipating the energy the lightning will
tend to dwell in one spot and do alot of damage. It will possibly try to
attach to underlying metalic pathways: wiring, fuel lines, control cables and
pushrods, etc.

Paul Klusman


In a message dated 6/1/02 11:30:21 AM EST, glcasey@adelphia.net writes:

<<  When asked where lightning strikes someone said "wherever it
 wants." >>