yes it can be. Since the outer skin of most airplanes is primarily aluminum, which is a very good conductor of electricity; the secret to safe lightning hits is to allow the current to flow through the skin from the point of impact to some other point without interruption or diversion to the interior of the aircraft.
It is estimated that on average, each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck lightly by lightning more than once each year. In fact, aircraft often trigger lightning when flying through a heavily charged region of a cloud. In these instances, the lightning flash originates at the airplane and extends away in opposite directions. Although record keeping is poor, smaller business and private airplanes are thought to be struck less frequently because of their small size and because they often can avoid weather that is conducive to lightning strikes.
Although passengers and crew may see a flash and hear a loud noise if lightning strikes their plane, nothing serious should happen because of the careful lightning protection engineered into the aircraft and its sensitive components. Initially, the lightning will attach to an extremity such as the nose or wing tip. The airplane then flies through the lightning flash, which reattaches itself to the fuselage at other locations while the airplane is in the electric "circuit" between the cloud regions of opposite polarity. The current will travel through the conductive exterior skin and structures of the aircraft and exit off some other extremity, such as the tail. Pilots occasionally report temporary flickering of lights or short-lived interference with instruments.
2006-11-23 13:27:27
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answer #1
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answered by khaja 2
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This is a frequent occurrence, and airplane are built to support lightning strikes with minimal damage.
Airplane routinely fly through clouds, and most lightnings occur between clouds (lightning between a cloud and the ground are actually less frequent -- of course, on the ground, those are the one we see and hear, we are not as aware of the one at altitude).
So, there are zones in clouds with different charges, positive and negative, that are just far enough from one another to avoid having a spark, and here comes this bulk of conductive metal that brings the potential difference a bit closer together. Electricity follows the path of least resistance and will enter the airplane trough the tip of the wing, or the nose, or the tail, and exit at the opposite end.
The people inside are protected since the electricity will remain in the outer part of the metallic structure. But the place where the lightning struck (entry and exit) may see some damage due to heating from the intense power, and the jolt may disrupt avionics equipment.
2006-11-23 12:31:25
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answer #2
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answered by Vincent G 7
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Airplanes get struck via lightning for all time. there is an connect and go out strike (the electrical powered capacity extremely in basic terms passes for the time of the airplane) and likewise, using fact the airplane is shifting for the time of the lightning bolt, a 'swept stroke.' on the attachment element, community heating via resistance in the hull could reason small holes using melting the aluminum- this in many circumstances happens in the physique the place the exterior is skinny- the place it extremely is thicker, like on the wing, the steel does not get warm sufficient. those pinholes require structural restoration formerly flight. The airplane must be designed to avert electrically intense aspects on the element of the main in all probability lightning connect factors and has circuit breakers to guard from surge currents. airplane designers additionally could desire to communicate lightning in flammable (gas containing) zones and ascertain distinctive layers of protection to avert sparking in the gas tanks.
2016-12-29 09:38:07
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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Anything can be shocked by lighting bolts. Lighting bolts can be attracted by metal and other metalic matters (not all). If there is some iron in the aeroplane there is more concentreation of getting hitted by the lighting bolt.
2006-11-23 15:21:53
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answer #4
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answered by g1r2a3c4e5_korea 1
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Ya god Qus?, here newton 1st law come in to picture,"enargy flows form high to low" the effect on plane is not so much,BcoZ thay not grounded...
Of course they get hit by lighting. They fly through clouds all the time, and static charges build up.
It happens all the time.
2006-11-24 00:23:39
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answer #5
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answered by shrinivas m 1
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Shesh.....the grammar used by idiots on yahoo.
ANYTHING AT ALL, EVEN BIRDS in flight can be struck by lightning.
BECAUSE. Thats what lightning does. It HITS SOMETHING even if its just particles in the air. And if its something like METAL, an AIRPLANE for example then its MORE likely to be hit. Because METAL is a conductor for electricity. Planes arent built out of rubber, which does not conduct electricity.
2006-11-23 12:23:27
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answer #6
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answered by . S 3
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Airplanes will not be struck by lightning! It is because when a storm is detected all the pilot have to do is juz to fly the plane above the clouds!
2006-11-23 13:55:45
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answer #7
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answered by Ignatius corleone 2
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Of course they get hit by lighting. They fly through clouds all the time, and static charges build up.
It happens all the time.
2006-11-23 12:23:44
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answer #8
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answered by geek49203 6
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yes because it is metal and it is the farthest thing above ground
2006-11-23 12:23:58
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answer #9
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answered by `Avenging~ghetto~bird` 3
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