DescentBB

Scared is zoning out while descending into Phoenix at midnight, only to have the plane you're in get hit with lightning. BAM!!!

Scariest 10 seconds of my life.

Did you hear a clang and instinctively check your shields?

Yeah, we've had some mad rain here this year already. The Lightning and thunder have been more recent. Good thing you're alright though

so what happened? does that damage the plane?

That is just a surprise, not a real scare.

To my knowledge, there was no damage to the plane, and it kept flying like normal, which is why the scare only lasted a few seconds. Basically, it was like being at home when lightning strikes nearby, and the flash and sound are right on top of each other. It's lound and it startles you. But when it happens out of the blue while flying in a plane over a mile high, it's pretty terrifying. Thats not the sound you want to hear.

Those few seconds after, my senses were scanning the situation. Did it feel like the plane was still flying ok? Do the engines still sound normal? What was it? Did it do damage? It was a good 10 seconds before my mind started to be at ease with the situation. But that 10 seconds was excruciating.

Scared the ★■◆● outta me.

Glad you're ok.

I know flying is statistically safer than driving, but it's stories like this that make all the stats in the world seem useless. I mean, I'd rather be struck by lightning in a car than in a plane. I'd rather my engine in my car go out than the plane's. I still fly but I have no delusions about how 'safe' i really am.

Fosrtunately planes are designed to withstand lightning strikes.

Scared is having lightning strike that close to you and NOT being inside a metal cage.

Vander, you didn't turn to conservatism for those ten seconds...did you?

woodchip wrote:Vander, you didn't turn to conservatism for those ten seconds...did you?

Groan...

Flying machines are evil.

"Vander, you didn't turn to conservatism for those ten seconds...did you?"

Yep. During that 10 seconds I saw the beauty of supply side economics, personal artillery, and the unabashed abuse of power. I thought, "hey! I'm gonna die in a few seconds, so go right ahead and privatize social security!"

Luckily my moment of delusional fear and loathing passed before I could vote.

lol, Vander.

Lightning can damage a plane although airliners are certified to handle it fairly well. I have a piece off of an L1011 that got hit by lightning. The piece is commercially pure titanium (per the drawing) and it has a hole in it about 1 inch in diameter. The material that used to occupy the space that is now taken up by the hole is splattered on the inside of the part like melted butter. Pretty cool.