Hit by lightning?

[StevieBee]

Took off from Vienna yesterday into a thunderstorm - probably about 3 miles beyond the runway. Climb was interesting, rather like riding a bike upstairs. Had been climbing for about a minute when there was a flash, rather like someone taking a photo, then followed by another. Both me and the lady next to me felt a strange tingle (yeah, yeah, I know!!) and all the hairs on my arms stuck up.

So, would we have been hit or just nearby lightning?

[HoHoHo]

When we got hit some years ago, there was big flash and the lights flickered in the cabin at the same time.

I suspect aircraft are hit frequently by lightning.

[Simpo Two]

StevieBee said:

So, would we have been hit or just nearby lightning?

Or (3) SAM exploding prematurely

[HoHoHo]

Simpo Two said:

StevieBee said:

So, would we have been hit or just nearby lightning?

Or (3) SAM exploding prematurely

Is Sam the bird next to the OP?

[Flintstone]

StevieBee said:

So, would we have been hit or just nearby lightning?

What did the crew say?

[StevieBee]

Flintstone said:

StevieBee said:

So, would we have been hit or just nearby lightning?

What did the crew say?

Apologised for the bumps and bangs! Was Austrian Airlines booked as part of an Air Moldova flight so English was the third language the crew got to and I got bored waiting for explanation. Did ask one of the stewardesses but don't think she understood the question.

[davebeast]

Pretty safe really, the aircraft acts as a Faraday cage and channels the lightning through the fuselage and out of the bottom and back on it's way to earth.

[60]

davebeast said:

Pretty safe really, the aircraft acts as a Faraday cage and channels the lightning through the fuselage and out of the bottom and back on it's way to earth.

You can sometimes get a small bit of melting where it hit, nothing to worry about though!