Return-Path: Received: from smtp5.gateway.net ([208.230.117.249]) by truman.olsusa.com (Post.Office MTA v3.5.1 release 219 ID# 0-52269U2500L250S0V35) with ESMTP id com for ; Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:50:14 -0500 Received: from oemcomputer (1Cust208.tnt2.coeur-dalene.id.da.uu.net [63.20.49.208]) by smtp5.gateway.net (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id SAA12646 for ; Mon, 20 Dec 1999 18:55:00 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <001001bf4b46$0d86df80$d031143f@oemcomputer> Reply-To: "dfs" From: "dfs" To: "Lancair List" Subject: Fw: Composite airplanes & Lightning Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 15:58:00 -0800 X-Mailing-List: lancair.list@olsusa.com Mime-Version: 1.0 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> << Lancair Builders' Mail List >> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<--->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >> For what it's worth, I'm forwarding this to the LML. Dan Schaefer -----Original Message----- From: GatesJH@aol.com To: editorial@eaa.org ; lynda@lancair.net ; Michael.Holland@halliburton.com ; bj358@lafn.org ; dfs@gateway.net ; mc.tennant@aopa.org ; jim.wapelhorst@weyerhaeuser.com Cc: GatesJH@aol.com Date: Monday, December 20, 1999 8:09 AM Subject: Composite airplanes & Lightning >from AvWeb 12/20/99: > >LIGHTNING TURNS BRITISH "GLIDER" INTO "FALLER"... >If you've ever had a close call with a building thunderstorm, the just- >completed British aviation authority report of a lightning strike to a >Schleicher ASK-21 glider makes for interesting reading. On April 17, >1999, the ASK-21 launched with an instructor and student from a strip in >the United Kingdom as bad weather approached. The instructor flew into >a clear area close along the front edge of the cloud ...; as he turned >the glider away to make his return to the field, the glider was struck >by what authorities call a "massive" bolt of lightning. A large BANG >that could be heard in a nearby town was followed by sections of the >glider's airframe simply disintegrating. > > >..PROVING YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH MOTHER NATURE >The instructor told investigators he was knocked out, and when he awoke, >realized he had a "real emergency requiring unpleasant and decisive >action." Luckily, both student and pilot were able to bail out, >suffering non-life-threatening injuries in the jump to safety. Though >the bulk of the glider was made of non-conductive glass reinforced >plastic, bonded joints failed, wing skin shattered, and the glider >suffered other damage before falling in a heap to the ground. Just more >proof of why it's not nice to fool with Mother Nature. > > NOTE: AVweb's Newswire contains more details and a link to the full > accident report. > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LML website: http://www.olsusa.com/Users/Mkaye/maillist.html Builders' Bookstore: http://www.buildersbooks.com/lancair >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>