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Old June 23rd 09, 01:26 AM posted to rec.aviation.piloting
Jim Logajan
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Posts: 1,958
Default Other questions about the Airbus planes

Tom Duhamel wrote:
How good is composite when lightning strikes?


The following article titled "Building the 787: When lightning strikes"
may provide some background:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm..._boeing05.html

Doesn't is explode or something?


Probably depends on its electrical conductivity, which in turn depends
on the composition and construction of the fiber. (With enough current
you can even explode a conductor; something of interest to scientists
studying plasmas - and people who like to blow things up:

http://tesladownunder.com/Pulse_Power.htm
http://etd.caltech.edu/etd/available...022006-104759/
http://www.plasmacenter.cornell.edu/ExplodingWires.html )

I don't think it will conduct electricity, does it?


Depends on the composite. If it is carbon fiber, then it can be made to
conduct electricity:

"The fiber also finds use in filtration of high-temperature gasses, as
an electrode with high surface area and impeccable corrosion resistance,
and as an anti-static component." From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_fiber