> > This thread below discusses it some more, including that Glasair (now > owned by the Chinese!) worked with NASA to develop lightning protection, >
https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rec.aviation.homebuilt/Olt6xYeu0tg And this experience with the related issue of static: "I recently flew my Glasair from LA to Boston and back, in the process picking up 14 hours of actual [IFR]. (I had about 700 hours at that time, with about 100 hours TIT.) I have one comment: If you are going to fly IFR in a composite airplane, do not fly anywhere near a thunderstorm. A level 3 cell does not mean be cautious in a glass airplane, it means find a hotel. I picked up some static electricity over Cleveland that was extremely severe and quite painful. Since the fuselage is not conductive, the charge flows where ever it can, with a preference for sharp points and edges.... in my case every switch on the panel as well as the prop and throttle cables. All the avionics went out, and the charge actually started arcing across the cabin. Note that I while I was in the clouds, I was not even very close to the actual cell. It was no fun being blind and deaf in the soup and getting shocked every time I touched anything. (I got the radios back after a few minutes and was able to land safely.) Icing however, is not a real problem at all, as long as you stay away from anywhere known to be severe. I flew right through an are where the 4 planes ahead of me had reported rime without even a trace. It takes alot to ice up a composite airframe." _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
