Does lightning strike an aeroplane during its flight?

Answer 1

Lightning strikes on aircraft are actually very common but damage is rare because the metal airframe acts like a Faraday Cage, insulating the wires, electronics and other vital internal components from damage by conducting the electrical charge around the aircraft rather than allowing it to penetrate.

In the United States the statistics show that on average every aircraft will be struck by lightning at least once a year but it has been over 40 years since an aircraft crashed in the US due to lightning strike.

The increasing use of plastics and composite materials in aircraft construction actually increases the danger of damage because plastics don't conduct the charge around the outside of the aircraft so effectively.

Answer 2

Yes, it strikes. Once an aeroplane is hit by lightning, the charge accumulated over the aeroplane due to the lightning is passed to the earth through a mechanism when the plane touches the ground.

Answer 3

Aircraft are built to conduct electricity through the skin and structural members, allowing it to pass through and back out without causing any damage. At least that's the idea. Occasionally if the path of conductivity is broken, or leads through something sensitive it can cause problems for the aircraft. But this is rare. There have been some recorded instances of lightning contributing to a crash, but very few. The wind inside a thunder storm is much more of a danger to the aircraft.

Answer 4

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http://www.jdchapdelaine.com/lightning.htm states,

"Statistics show that commercial pilots experience an average of one lightning strike for every 3,000 flight hours, and the commercial airlines average one hit per aircraft per year. Air Force statistics show a somewhat lesser rate than civilians, but nonetheless the USAF in the past has averaged 51 lightning mishaps per year."

Interesting factoid: (my [[[]]] symbols).
[[["Actually thunderstorms and lightning are part of a global electric circuit. According to nature's plan to maintain an electric potential between the earth's surface and the ionosphere (called the "fair weather" electric potential), thunderstorms are necessary.

They, in fact, play a key role in maintaining the earth's fair weather electric potential. The total number of thunderstorms occurring at any given time around the globe is approximately 2,000.

These thunderstorms average about 100 lightning strikes per second. They act as an electric generator, maintaining the electric field. From this perspective, lightning within a thunderstorm cloud helps maintain the earth's electric potential."]]]

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Answer 5

Yes. To prevent arcing between conductive parts, all metal objects are connected together (bonded).

I have been in aircraft twice when lightning hit. There was a dim blue flash and a noise I can only describe as a "tick."

Answer 6

Yes.

All the time . They have all kind of protective devises to protect and minimise the incidence of a strike.

If you have a window seat you can observe the strikes and count them, at night time. At day time only very strong ones can be noticed.

Answer 7

Yes, all the time

Answer 8

yes

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

There are chances.. but one advantage is that the plane flies above the clouds.