Quote:
Originally Posted by Flacker
Lightning can cause structural failure in aircraft. There have been cases of lightning strike that punch/melt holes in the aircraft fuselage. The media is quick to show footage of airplane strikes and discount it as a cause. The key is that aircraft are RESISTANT to lightning strike, if you take one in the wrong place on the aircraft the results can be catostrophic. Shown below is a 757 that suffered a lightning strike in flight hitting the radar dome an unpressurized area. Such a hole at 900+km/hr in a critical area will cause breakup of the aircraft.
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The skin of the radome is different then the skin of the rest of the aircraft. It's only purpose is to act as a fairing to decrease drag and still allow pulses/signals through it. It's considerably weaker than the structural skin of the rest of the aircraft. What you are claiming is possible hasn't happened since lightning was first thought about in designing. Yes, such a hole in a critical area MAY cause breakup (not will, aircraft have flown with larger holes), but the like I said, the damage you show in the photo wouldn't be likely elsewhere in a crtical part of the aircraft.