ripcord4 0 #1 August 31, 2005 Has anyone ever heard of anyone being struck by lightning in freefall or under canopy? Yes, I know we shouldn't jump when the conditions are amenable to lightning, but stuff happens. If this happened, I would assume no survivors, but as I said, stuff happens. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob.dino 1 #2 August 31, 2005 My electrical knowledge is fading fast, but wouldn't you need to be earthed for lightning to hit you? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #3 August 31, 2005 QuoteMy electrical knowledge is fading fast, but wouldn't you need to be earthed for lightning to hit you? Not necessarily, but then again, people have different physical properties than commercial airliners, which have been hit in air many times. So I can honest say I really don't know for sure."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bch7773 0 #4 August 31, 2005 QuoteMy electrical knowledge is fading fast, but wouldn't you need to be earthed for lightning to hit you? not for air-to-air lightning... but i think you'd have to be jumping in a thunderstorm to get struck. MB 3528, RB 1182 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
grue 1 #5 August 31, 2005 QuoteQuoteMy electrical knowledge is fading fast, but wouldn't you need to be earthed for lightning to hit you? not for air-to-air lightning... but i think you'd have to be jumping in a thunderstorm to get struck. Remember, kids... punching clouds might not just piss off the FAA... the clouds might punch back! cavete terrae. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iwasinkheson68 0 #6 August 31, 2005 yeah i've been in a couple of planes that have been hit by lightning, but they are great big metal monstrosities. would lightning be able to find your, say , three ring system? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Erroll 80 #7 August 31, 2005 QuoteHas anyone ever heard of anyone being struck by lightning in freefall or under canopy? Yes, I know we shouldn't jump when the conditions are amenable to lightning, but stuff happens. If this happened, I would assume no survivors, but as I said, stuff happens. See here for a comprehensive discussion. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tcnelson 1 #8 August 31, 2005 lightning doesn't just hit metal. lightning hits anything that has a different charge (potential difference) than the object that the lightning came from. usually, these objects are at least partially electrically conductive but, lightning will hit anything from metal poles to brick and mortar chimneys."Don't talk to me like that assface...I don't work for you yet." - Fletch NBFT, Deseoso Rodriguez RB#1329 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #9 August 31, 2005 You know what lightning does? . . . Any damn thing it wants to!My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
spidermonky 0 #10 August 31, 2005 I don't really know the answer but here is my logic. Lightning takes the path of least resistance. Obviously it strikes the metal skin of a plane instead of passing through the air around it because it is more conductive. So what about people? It seems to me that if lightning regularly chooses to travel from the top of trees into the ground and often strikes people on the ground that they would also be less resistive in the air. Who wants to try? NOT IT! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
daniel_owen_uk 0 #11 August 31, 2005 Human body = 90% water so I am guessing its more conductive than air. And if you are a man its 6 times more likely to happen than if you are a woman (according to this http://sbt.bhmedia.com/facts3.html)__________________ BOOM Headshot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #12 August 31, 2005 QuoteI don't really know the answer but here is my logic. Lightning takes the path of least resistance. Obviously it strikes the metal skin of a plane instead of passing through the air around it because it is more conductive. So what about people? It seems to me that if lightning regularly chooses to travel from the top of trees into the ground and often strikes people on the ground that they would also be less resistive in the air. Who wants to try? NOT IT! Just curious, do you think jumpers with hardware in their legs (rods, plates & screws) have more of a propensity to get struck by lightning than those without? "Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #13 August 31, 2005 It is rumored that March AFB radar controllers could "see" Pieces of Eight much better than other 8-way teams. Hint: Pieces of Eight members are all amputees and many of them jump with aluminum artificial legs, etc. If radar can "see" aluminum legs, you can be danged sure that lightning can too! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,111 #14 August 31, 2005 >If radar can "see" aluminum legs, you can be danged sure that lightning can too! Not really the same issue. Corner reflectors show up incredibly brightly on radar, much more so than, say, a lightning rod. But lightning's generally going to go for the rod. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
