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Rae McLelland wrote:
Subject: lightning strikes

Speaking of lightning strikes, what's the expected survival of a composite   carbon fiber airplane? Rae,
A German-built composite sailplane was hit by a very heavy lightning discharge in the UK a couple of years ago, and the aircraft disintegrated. Both student pilot and instructor were wearing parachutes and escaped with minor injuries. The British authorities were able to recover virtually all of the aircraft and conducted an extensive analysis. Summary: No airplane would have survived the kind of hit the sailplane took. The details are fascinating. I am on the road, but will try to obtain and post the reference. Worth reading.

Bob Pastusek

LML website:   http://www.olsusa.com/mkaye/maillist.html
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Please send your photos and drawings to marvkaye@olsusa.com.