'IT'S ALIVE!!!!!!!!!' ...

[Mark Allen M]

The two guys sitting inside are either really brave or .......


Lightning Test Being Performed on a Northrop F-15 Reporter with the All Weather Flying Service.

[wendovertom]

In a Faraday cage I would assume.

Tom P.

[Michel Lemieux]

I may be wrong!

But that plexy canopy does not seem like a Faraday cage like a door on a microwave.

Saving grace could simply be the fact that they do not seem grounded with the air frame. Again. Could be wrong.

The hit would probably be in an area with the most metal mass density. I wonder if they even added lightning surge antennas to the biggest metal parts.

But for sure the interior must be padded with insulation material for the crew.

As always Mark!!!! Sublime. Anyone has a good read up on the bird and the testing?

[shrike]

Neat close up on an F-15 even without the lightning.

Tom, makes you want to light up the array on the back 40, eh?

[Dan K]

Be sure to watch the live-test video as well. Starts at about the 9:00 mark.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE7VArI92As

[Tulio]

In a Faraday cage I would assume.

Tom P.

Van Graaf (sp?) Generator?


Saludos


Tulio

[Michel Lemieux]

Looks more like a Tesla coil.

To generate that kind of power you need a lot of energy.

[Tulio]

Looks more like a Tesla coil.

To generate that kind of power you need a lot of energy.

What he said.

I meant to,say Tesla Cpil, and Van Graaf came out.

Oh, well...not the first time I screw up.


Saludos.


Tulio

[Randy Wilson]

I found that exact photo on page 122 of "Northrop's Night Hunter P-61 Black Widow" by Jeff Kolln, 2009. Chapter 9 is titled "Project Thunderstorm and NACA" and on page 122 is a discussion of "Lightning Tests". Basically the F-15A (45-59318) was flown to the Navy's Lightning and Transients Research Institute at then Wold-Chamberlain Field, now Minneapolis-St. Paul International, for the tests in February 1947. They say that the 40-foot high "generator device" could deliver up to 200,000 amperes at 100-million kilowatts. For the initial test the plane was drained of fuel and no crew was on board. Later, Lt. Eldor Schueler, the pilot, and Professor M.M. Newman volunteered to man the cockpit. It says "A metal conducting strip or diverter bar was mounted above the canopy of the F-15." There is some more detail on that page if you can access the book. Hope that helps.

Randy

[Ken]

Weather research, including the Black Widow, gets a fair amount of mention in Bob Buck's "North Star Over My Shoulder".

Ken

[Michel Lemieux]

It says "A metal conducting strip or diverter bar was mounted above the canopy of the F-15."

Thank you Randy! I was curious about that.

I just wonder were the energy was diverted it the plane was not grounded. I guess if not grounded, the energy would have jumped to the ground on one of the oleo and simply bypass the rubber isolation of the tire.

But in the air....another story for sure.

Any good lighting strike story anyone?