ASW 27 destroyed by lightning in trailer [Archive]

September 25th 19, 08:13 PM

As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
Cheers,
JJ

Tony[_5_]

September 25th 19, 08:31 PM

The attached letter from Schleicher reads:

---
Dear Rex,
This are quite impressive pictures. From my point of view, at least the fuselage is impossible to repair.
The lightning must have left the glider somewhere and everything in between might have damages. The
control system and also the carbon layers in the fuselage shell are conductive, so without destructive
investigations it seems not possible to determine what is damaged and what not. The best would be to
cut the fuselage in pieces. So the lightning damage could be investigated more in detail and this would
secure that this potential unsafe structure cannot brought back to service again.
The wings might be okay, if no traces of smoke or burnt areas were found. But finally this have to be
decided by the local inspector.
---

This is ASW-27 Serial # 27057 Registration N27UH

Gary Wayland

September 25th 19, 09:02 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 1:40:06 PM UTC-4, Scott Williams wrote:
> One unpredictable consequence of a fiberglass topped Cobra!
> https://www-265.aig.com/AviationSalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?SalvageId=2911

That is Seminole Lake! Did it get hit there? I use to park in that area.

Jim White[_3_]

September 25th 19, 09:49 PM

At 20:02 25 September 2019, Gary Wayland wrote:
>On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 1:40:06 PM UTC-4, Scott Williams
wrote:
>> One unpredictable consequence of a fiberglass topped Cobra!
>>
https://www-265.aig.com/AviationSalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?SalvageId=2911
>
>That is Seminole Lake! Did it get hit there? I use to park in that area.
>
>
>
Going to fit a lightning conductor to my cobra fin

Bob Kuykendall

September 25th 19, 10:46 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:31:34 PM UTC-7, Tony wrote:
> The attached letter from Schleicher reads...

>...The best would be to cut the fuselage in pieces...

It's nice how they say the best thing would be to cut it up, but without offering to actually buy it for that purpose.

[email protected]

September 25th 19, 11:02 PM

Darryl Ramm

September 25th 19, 11:03 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 10:40:06 AM UTC-7, Scott Williams wrote:
> One unpredictable consequence of a fiberglass topped Cobra!
> https://www-265.aig.com/AviationSalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?SalvageId=2911

Somebody's going to get a really nice Condor sim cockpit.

Steve Leonard[_2_]

September 25th 19, 11:06 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 5:02:29 PM UTC-5, wrote:

> Were the jacks down?

Look on Page 2 of the Wings and Wheels "Canceled Not Sold" section. Doesn't look like it has tail jacks on the trailer.

Steve Leonard

Steve Leonard[_2_]

September 25th 19, 11:06 PM

September 26th 19, 01:21 AM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> Cheers,
> JJ

It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.

Tom

Tony[_5_]

September 26th 19, 01:46 AM

Dear Rex,
This are quite impressive pictures. From my point of view, at least the fuselage is impossible to repair.
The lightning must have left the glider somewhere and everything in between might have damages. The
control system and also the carbon layers in the fuselage shell are conductive, so without destructive
investigations it seems not possible to determine what is damaged and what not. The best would be to
cut the fuselage in pieces. So the lightning damage could be investigated more in detail and this would
secure that this potential unsafe structure cannot brought back to service again.
The wings might be okay, if no traces of smoke or burnt areas were found. But finally this have to be
decided by the local inspector.

George Haeh

September 26th 19, 02:56 AM

So what's welded on the trailer:

Wheel bearings or chains?

Scott Williams

September 26th 19, 03:22 AM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 7:21:40 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> > Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> > Cheers,
> > JJ
>
> It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.
>
> Tom

I think once a factory representative takes a position of "Fuselage impossible to repair" and "potential unsafe structure cannot be brought back to service"
that's pretty much it. Not much to guess at really, is there?
Scott

Darryl Ramm

September 26th 19, 03:35 AM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 3:06:53 PM UTC-7, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 4:46:02 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:31:34 PM UTC-7, Tony wrote:
> > > The attached letter from Schleicher reads...
> >
> > >...The best would be to cut the fuselage in pieces...
> >
> > It's nice how they say the best thing would be to cut it up, but without offering to actually buy it for that purpose.
>
> SAWZALL!!!!!!!

Party at Bob's. Can we crowdfund it?

September 26th 19, 06:22 AM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 7:22:24 PM UTC-7, Scott Williams wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 7:21:40 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > > As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> > > Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> > > Cheers,
> > > JJ
> >
> > It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.
> >
> > Tom
>
> I think once a factory representative takes a position of "Fuselage impossible to repair" and "potential unsafe structure cannot be brought back to service"
> that's pretty much it. Not much to guess at really, is there?
> Scott

I think the guy just looked at the photos, not the actual glider.

Tom

John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net

September 26th 19, 01:58 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 4:46:02 PM UTC-5, Bob Kuykendall wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:31:34 PM UTC-7, Tony wrote:
> > The attached letter from Schleicher reads...
>
> >...The best would be to cut the fuselage in pieces...
>
> It's nice how they say the best thing would be to cut it up, but without offering to actually buy it for that purpose.

Why would Schleicher want to buy one of their own "toasted" gliders? A destructive tear down inspection by the engineering teams as an academic exercise? To what end? To design a fix to allow a glider to survive this seemingly rarest of event?

John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net

September 26th 19, 02:02 PM

Question: Would a CF glider in an aluminum topped trailer have survived a lightning strike?

Expiring minds want to know (that happens to own a '27 stored in an aluminum Cobra trailer).

- John

John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net

September 26th 19, 02:09 PM

I know of an aluminum glider that was struck by lightning once. The strike came through the wing cover at the wing tip and then jumped across the tire to the ground. I suspect the hit traveled along the skin, rather than internally (controls/spar/etc), as the glider was inspected and flew again quite quickly.

Any other stories (aside from a cottonwood tree on my property that has been hit TWICE!)?

John Perry

September 26th 19, 02:26 PM

At 13:02 26 September 2019,
John_DeRosa_OHM_Ω_http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
>Question: Would a CF glider in an aluminum topped trailer have survived a
>lightning strike?
>
>Expiring minds want to know (that happens to own a '27 stored in an
>aluminum Cobra trailer).
>
>- John
>
Is an "expiring mind" a form of memory loss?

John Perry

September 26th 19, 02:26 PM

Tony[_5_]

September 26th 19, 04:39 PM

To limit future liability?

Ken Fixter[_3_]

September 26th 19, 07:30 PM

At 13:26 26 September 2019, John Perry wrote:
>At 13:02 26 September 2019,
>John_DeRosa_OHM_Ω_http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
>>Question: Would a CF glider in an aluminum topped trailer have survived
a
>>lightning strike?
>>
>>Expiring minds want to know (that happens to own a '27 stored in an
>>aluminum Cobra trailer).
>>
>>- John
>>
>Is an "expiring mind" a form of memory loss?
>
>>>How about a Faraday cage if the trailer is matal skined, the
> the glider should be safe inside it.
> KF

[email protected]

September 26th 19, 09:07 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 8:21:40 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> > Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> > Cheers,
> > JJ
>
> It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.
>
> Tom

I could not get any sense of where the exit point was.
How did you? or is this an educated guess?
I agree path likely got to push rods.
UH

Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)

September 26th 19, 09:09 PM

I believe I have a couple hundred hours in THAT ship (based on "N number"), sad to see it's demise.....:-(

September 27th 19, 02:27 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 1:07:38 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 8:21:40 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > > As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> > > Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> > > Cheers,
> > > JJ
> >
> > It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.
> >
> > Tom
>
> I could not get any sense of where the exit point was.
> How did you? or is this an educated guess?
> I agree path likely got to push rods.
> UH

The photo of the trailer showed a strike mark near the front of the trailer where the carpet ends. This indicated to me that it exited out of the bottom of the nose.

Tom

September 27th 19, 02:28 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 1:09:18 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> I believe I have a couple hundred hours in THAT ship (based on "N number"), sad to see it's demise.....:-(

I think the glider can be repaired, and the damage is not that great.

Tom

September 27th 19, 02:31 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:02:34 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> Question: Would a CF glider in an aluminum topped trailer have survived a lightning strike?
>
> Expiring minds want to know (that happens to own a '27 stored in an aluminum Cobra trailer).
>
> - John

I don't think that this would have happened to an aluminum-topped trailer because the trailer would have acted as a Faraday cage, and the current would flowed thru the trailer and around the glider.

Tom

Gary Wayland

September 27th 19, 02:48 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:31:39 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 6:02:34 AM UTC-7, John DeRosa OHM Ω http://aviation.derosaweb.net wrote:
> > Question: Would a CF glider in an aluminum topped trailer have survived a lightning strike?
> >
> > Expiring minds want to know (that happens to own a '27 stored in an aluminum Cobra trailer).
> >
> > - John
>
> I don't think that this would have happened to an aluminum-topped trailer because the trailer would have acted as a Faraday cage, and the current would flowed thru the trailer and around the glider.
>

> Tom

Whatever the trailer was made of; That glider was at the wrong place at the wrong time...

And, lightning does not take the least path of resistance. It takes many paths... Unlucky for this poor soul... One of the pics has my 27 inside the hangar..!!!! She likes it there...

Steve Leonard[_2_]

September 27th 19, 04:31 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:27:06 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
>
> The photo of the trailer showed a strike mark near the front of the trailer where the carpet ends. This indicated to me that it exited out of the bottom of the nose.
>
> Tom

Hi Tom,
Looks to me like that picture is looking up into the fin box. I don't see any gray floor in that pic, but black like in the glass top of the trailer. There is red carpet visible in the elevator drive box, and burn marks on the white foam (owner added?) that might kinda line up with the top of the vertical being in there.

Just another opinion.
Steve Leonard

Mike the Strike

September 27th 19, 05:14 AM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:31:11 PM UTC-7, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:27:06 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> >
> > The photo of the trailer showed a strike mark near the front of the trailer where the carpet ends. This indicated to me that it exited out of the bottom of the nose.
> >
> > Tom
>
> Hi Tom,
> Looks to me like that picture is looking up into the fin box. I don't see any gray floor in that pic, but black like in the glass top of the trailer. There is red carpet visible in the elevator drive box, and burn marks on the white foam (owner added?) that might kinda line up with the top of the vertical being in there.
>
> Just another opinion.
> Steve Leonard

As a lightning guy who has inspected and analyzed many things struck by lightning (including aircraft, helicopters, gliders and vehicles), maybe I could add a few comments.

The lightning entry point was certainly the top of the trailer and into the metal control system for the elevator at the top of the fin. From the control system, it would have travelled to the bottom of the rudder and could either have exited straight down into the nearest metal of the trailer floor and/or forwards along the fuselage along the control rods and rudder cables. Exiting from metal, lightning typically leaves a nice characteristic melted area which would be easy to find if they were examined. How the lightning got out of the fuselage isn't obvious to me from the photos. If it went through fiberglass, the damage would be obvious.

Since the metal control systems of gliders are not electrically continuous, there is the possibility of arcing across gaps, which can develop significant pressure. The possibility of damage inside the the fin and fuselage from this cannot be known without inspection, but I would suspect it to be repairable. The wings are almost certainly unaffected.

Where the lightning exited the trailer to ground is also not known from the available photos. Many lightning-damaged vehicles I have examined have one or more flat tires, destroyed by lightning current. Tires are not very good insulators - they are black because they are full of carbon and may also have steel wire inserts. Flashover to ground from the axle or wheels is commonly seen in videos of vehicle lightning strikes. Just remember, lightning has traveled around 5 miles through air, which is a pretty darned good electrical insulator - a few inches from trailer to ground is nothing!

Mike

[email protected]

September 27th 19, 01:26 PM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:27:06 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 1:07:38 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 8:21:40 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 12:13:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> > > > As I understand it, lightning is seeking the path of least resistance to the ground. It went through the fiberglass trailer top and entered the ship at the top of the fin, question would be; where did it exit? The ship is sitting on rubber wheels (tail wheel and dolly wheels), so did it exit at the tail wheel into the aluminum floor, then to the rear legs, if they were down? Or, did it run the full length of the fuselage and exit through the saddle aluminum arms, then jump the rubber tires then into the floor out to the tongue and into the chains. To the tie-down point? Also, did it fry that good looking instrument panel on its way to ground? I believe other lightning strikes followed the metal push-rods, which offer less resistance than carbon fiber structure.
> > > > Food for thought, before placing your bid + that Cobra trailer is worth something close to 10K.
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > JJ
> > >
> > > It looks like the current went down the pushrods and exited somewhere near the nose and thru the trailer floor. Carbon fiber is conductive, but high resistance to the point that commercial composite aircraft must include conductors to handle lightning current (https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/lightning-strike-protection-strategies-for-composite-aircraft). I guess that the fuselage is okay with the possible exception of welded pushrod junctions. The instruments condition is unknown, but could be inspected. The most vulnerable instruments are the radio and transponder, and current could have jumped from them to other instruments.
> > >
> > > Tom
> >
> > I could not get any sense of where the exit point was.
> > How did you? or is this an educated guess?
> > I agree path likely got to push rods.
> > UH
>
> The photo of the trailer showed a strike mark near the front of the trailer where the carpet ends. This indicated to me that it exited out of the bottom of the nose.
>
> Tom

The photo of red and gray with hole is the entry point at the top of the fin housing.
UH

[email protected]

September 27th 19, 01:31 PM

On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 9:28:17 PM UTC-4, 2G wrote:
> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 1:09:18 PM UTC-7, Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> > I believe I have a couple hundred hours in THAT ship (based on "N number"), sad to see it's demise.....:-(
>
> I think the glider can be repaired, and the damage is not that great.
>
> Tom

True.
The problem for someone taking on this project is complex.
1) Need replacement aft section to do it right.
2) Getting a reasonable price after repair and refinish will be problematic.
3) Return to service after the factory, taking a very conservative position, said cut it up. Liability exposure is huge.
Sigh- It was a great ship for me.
UH

Dan Marotta

September 27th 19, 05:33 PM

Ain't it great when someone who knows what the HELL he's talking about,
weighs in?

Thanks, Mike.

On 9/26/2019 10:14 PM, Mike the Strike wrote:
> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:31:11 PM UTC-7, Steve Leonard wrote:
>> On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 8:27:06 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
>>> The photo of the trailer showed a strike mark near the front of the trailer where the carpet ends. This indicated to me that it exited out of the bottom of the nose.
>>>
>>> Tom
>> Hi Tom,
>> Looks to me like that picture is looking up into the fin box. I don't see any gray floor in that pic, but black like in the glass top of the trailer. There is red carpet visible in the elevator drive box, and burn marks on the white foam (owner added?) that might kinda line up with the top of the vertical being in there.
>>
>> Just another opinion.
>> Steve Leonard
> As a lightning guy who has inspected and analyzed many things struck by lightning (including aircraft, helicopters, gliders and vehicles), maybe I could add a few comments.
>
> The lightning entry point was certainly the top of the trailer and into the metal control system for the elevator at the top of the fin. From the control system, it would have travelled to the bottom of the rudder and could either have exited straight down into the nearest metal of the trailer floor and/or forwards along the fuselage along the control rods and rudder cables. Exiting from metal, lightning typically leaves a nice characteristic melted area which would be easy to find if they were examined. How the lightning got out of the fuselage isn't obvious to me from the photos. If it went through fiberglass, the damage would be obvious.
>
> Since the metal control systems of gliders are not electrically continuous, there is the possibility of arcing across gaps, which can develop significant pressure. The possibility of damage inside the the fin and fuselage from this cannot be known without inspection, but I would suspect it to be repairable. The wings are almost certainly unaffected.
>
> Where the lightning exited the trailer to ground is also not known from the available photos. Many lightning-damaged vehicles I have examined have one or more flat tires, destroyed by lightning current. Tires are not very good insulators - they are black because they are full of carbon and may also have steel wire inserts. Flashover to ground from the axle or wheels is commonly seen in videos of vehicle lightning strikes. Just remember, lightning has traveled around 5 miles through air, which is a pretty darned good electrical insulator - a few inches from trailer to ground is nothing!
>
> Mike

--
Dan, 5J

September 27th 19, 06:05 PM

Eric Greenwell[_4_]

September 27th 19, 07:09 PM

Mike the Strike wrote on 9/26/2019 9:14 PM:
> As a lightning guy who has inspected and analyzed many things struck by lightning (including aircraft, helicopters, gliders and vehicles), maybe I could add a few comments.

Is "Mike the Strike" a reference to your expertise?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1

Dave Nadler

September 27th 19, 10:25 PM

On Friday, September 27, 2019 at 12:34:01 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
> Ain't it great when someone who knows what the HELL he's talking about,
> weighs in?

Quite shocking.

[email protected]

September 27th 19, 10:47 PM

Yes Eric it is, Im not sure but I think hes been hit a few times :) He is definetly our weather guru in AZ. Knows his ****, and we are teally happy when he shows up with a white hat on to the pilots meeting :)

CH

Chris Wedgwood[_2_]

September 28th 19, 09:37 AM

On Friday, September 27, 2019 at 10:25:58 PM UTC+1, Dave Nadler wrote:
> On Friday, September 27, 2019 at 12:34:01 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta wrote:
> > Ain't it great when someone who knows what the HELL he's talking about,
> > weighs in?
>
> Quite shocking.

I saw what you did there Dave.

[email protected]

September 28th 19, 05:19 PM

From the man who did inspection right after it happened. The fuselage was tilted in dolly. Horizontal stab pins were touching fin box. That is where lightening entered. There is no visible evidence of exit, anywhere. Suspected maybe went down the fin, jumped to trailer and forward out to ground through safety chain that was attached to tie down stake at front of trailer. Inside of fin was shattered and frayed only partially down from entry point..No visible damage to fuselage. Aircraft was totalled because of these unknowns.

Eric Greenwell[_4_]

September 28th 19, 06:54 PM

wrote on 9/27/2019 2:47 PM:
> Yes Eric it is, Im not sure but I think hes been hit a few times :) He is definetly our weather guru in AZ. Knows his ****, and we are teally happy when he shows up with a white hat on to the pilots meeting :)

If he shows up without a hat, does that mean it's too windy for a task?

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to email me)
- "A Guide to Self-Launching Sailplane Operation"
https://sites.google.com/site/motorgliders/publications/download-the-guide-1

Steve Leonard[_2_]

September 28th 19, 07:47 PM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 12:54:10 PM UTC-5, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> cliffhilty wrote on 9/27/2019 2:47 PM:

> > Yes Eric it is, Im not sure but I think hes been hit a few times :) He is definetly our weather guru in AZ. Knows his ****, and we are teally happy when he shows up with a white hat on to the pilots meeting :)
>
> If he shows up without a hat, does that mean it's too windy for a task?
>

A mere "zephyr" must have blown the hat off his head. :-)

Steve Leonard

Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)

September 28th 19, 08:26 PM

Reminds me of a "Texas weather checker...".....rock on a chain, etc...etc....

Mike the Strike

September 28th 19, 10:19 PM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 9:19:03 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> From the man who did inspection right after it happened. The fuselage was tilted in dolly. Horizontal stab pins were touching fin box. That is where lightening entered. There is no visible evidence of exit, anywhere. Suspected maybe went down the fin, jumped to trailer and forward out to ground through safety chain that was attached to tie down stake at front of trailer.. Inside of fin was shattered and frayed only partially down from entry point.No visible damage to fuselage. Aircraft was totalled because of these unknowns.

It's interesting that no exit points were identified, but they must exist somewhere, although they may be subtle and hard to find (that's why my job as a lightning forensics expert existed!) In any event, a path to the trailer from the fin must have been established somewhere.

The safety chains would provide a more than adequate ground and could easily have been the lightning path from the trailer chassis to earth. The Royal Navy used chains to protect the masts of sailing ships from lightning, back in the day when there was a British Empire!

My nickname of Mike the Strike was informally known to a few colleagues until it was used in a newspaper headline in the 1970s on a story involving my project to artificially trigger lightning. "Mike the Strike will make it thunder!" The name stuck since then!

Mike

Frank Whiteley

September 28th 19, 10:31 PM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3:19:14 PM UTC-6, Mike the Strike wrote:
> On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 9:19:03 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> > From the man who did inspection right after it happened. The fuselage was tilted in dolly. Horizontal stab pins were touching fin box. That is where lightening entered. There is no visible evidence of exit, anywhere. Suspected maybe went down the fin, jumped to trailer and forward out to ground through safety chain that was attached to tie down stake at front of trailer. Inside of fin was shattered and frayed only partially down from entry point.No visible damage to fuselage. Aircraft was totalled because of these unknowns.
>
> It's interesting that no exit points were identified, but they must exist somewhere, although they may be subtle and hard to find (that's why my job as a lightning forensics expert existed!) In any event, a path to the trailer from the fin must have been established somewhere.
>
> The safety chains would provide a more than adequate ground and could easily have been the lightning path from the trailer chassis to earth. The Royal Navy used chains to protect the masts of sailing ships from lightning, back in the day when there was a British Empire!
>
> My nickname of Mike the Strike was informally known to a few colleagues until it was used in a newspaper headline in the 1970s on a story involving my project to artificially trigger lightning. "Mike the Strike will make it thunder!" The name stuck since then!
>
> Mike

We had a 208u10 LPA (HF amplifier) struck by lightning (via LP antenna) at Mildenhall around 1980. Maintenance ordered parts as they found issues and troubleshot their repairs. By the time it was operational again, 100% of the subassemblies were replaced, excluding the chassis. Funny stuff lightning, especially when it travels through radio facilities. Hair raising at times.

Frank Whiteley

September 28th 19, 11:30 PM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 2:31:29 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 3:19:14 PM UTC-6, Mike the Strike wrote:
> > On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 9:19:03 AM UTC-7, wrote:
> > > From the man who did inspection right after it happened. The fuselage was tilted in dolly. Horizontal stab pins were touching fin box. That is where lightening entered. There is no visible evidence of exit, anywhere. Suspected maybe went down the fin, jumped to trailer and forward out to ground through safety chain that was attached to tie down stake at front of trailer. Inside of fin was shattered and frayed only partially down from entry point.No visible damage to fuselage. Aircraft was totalled because of these unknowns.
> >
> > It's interesting that no exit points were identified, but they must exist somewhere, although they may be subtle and hard to find (that's why my job as a lightning forensics expert existed!) In any event, a path to the trailer from the fin must have been established somewhere.
> >
> > The safety chains would provide a more than adequate ground and could easily have been the lightning path from the trailer chassis to earth. The Royal Navy used chains to protect the masts of sailing ships from lightning, back in the day when there was a British Empire!
> >
> > My nickname of Mike the Strike was informally known to a few colleagues until it was used in a newspaper headline in the 1970s on a story involving my project to artificially trigger lightning. "Mike the Strike will make it thunder!" The name stuck since then!
> >
> > Mike
>
> We had a 208u10 LPA (HF amplifier) struck by lightning (via LP antenna) at Mildenhall around 1980. Maintenance ordered parts as they found issues and troubleshot their repairs. By the time it was operational again, 100% of the subassemblies were replaced, excluding the chassis. Funny stuff lightning, especially when it travels through radio facilities. Hair raising at times.
>
> Frank Whiteley

Lightning-induced voltages are many KV, so all normal electrical insulators will arc. Lightning rods aren't used to conduct the current of a strike, but to dissipate the high electric field created before the strike, which prevents the strike from occurring (this is why you don't see large gauge wire going to the rod). An old friend did an investigation of how to prevent lightning from striking a building where nuclear weapons were being assembled in Mississippi. He talked to well drillers who had the best lightning rods in the state. They all reported that their rigs had never been struck. Perhaps the pilots in FL should put up lightning rods...

Tom

Tom

Eric Greenwell[_4_]

September 29th 19, 12:48 AM

2G wrote on 9/28/2019 3:30 PM:
> Lightning rods aren't used to conduct the current of a strike, but to dissipate the high electric field created before the strike, which prevents the strike from occurring (this is why you don't see large gauge wire going to the rod).

I've read and heard several times that lightning rod systems can and do conduct a
lightning strike to ground. For example:

"A lightning rod is very simple -- it's a pointed metal rod attached to the roof
of a building. The rod might be an inch (2 cm) in diameter. It connects to a huge
piece of copper or aluminum wire that's also an inch or so in diameter. The wire
is connected to a conductive grid buried in the ground nearby."

https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/lightning7.htm

I'm sure some of them also work as you described, and that the system design
depends on the what's being protected and where it's situated.

Gary Wayland

September 29th 19, 01:17 AM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 7:48:57 PM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> 2G wrote on 9/28/2019 3:30 PM:
> > Lightning rods aren't used to conduct the current of a strike, but to dissipate the high electric field created before the strike, which prevents the strike from occurring (this is why you don't see large gauge wire going to the rod).
>
> I've read and heard several times that lightning rod systems can and do conduct a
> lightning strike to ground. For example:
>
> "A lightning rod is very simple -- it's a pointed metal rod attached to the roof
> of a building. The rod might be an inch (2 cm) in diameter. It connects to a huge
> piece of copper or aluminum wire that's also an inch or so in diameter. The wire
> is connected to a conductive grid buried in the ground nearby."
>
> https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/lightning7.htm
>
> I'm sure some of them also work as you described, and that the system design
> depends on the what's being protected and where it's situated.

Trying to control lightning is like herding cats. You get it right every now and then...

After fifty years, they mostly gave up driving ground rods for light poles. They realized they are one big waste of time and money. They serve no purpose as to there original intent. Some thought it was to protect from lightning, some to protect humans.

We are installing new lightning protection on a 14 story building. Cost the owner about 100K. Who knows if it makes a difference or not. But, we all feel better knowing it's UL listed and approved! Hopefully, lighting will find those two 37 strand aluminum downlead wires to its liking...

ian

September 29th 19, 07:13 AM

On 9/27/19 6:14 AM, Mike the Strike wrote:

> Where the lightning exited the trailer to ground is also not known from the available photos. Many lightning-damaged vehicles I have examined have one or more flat tires, destroyed by lightning current. Tires are not very good insulators - they are black because they are full of carbon and may also have steel wire inserts. Flashover to ground from the axle or wheels is commonly seen in videos of vehicle lightning strikes. Just remember, lightning has traveled around 5 miles through air, which is a pretty darned good electrical insulator - a few inches from trailer to ground is nothing!

The support arms from the trailer dolly to the wing lift pins look like
a possibility for the exit point.

Does anyone know, are all the control rods on the 27 are earthed
together? Does the 27 have a metal subframe like some S-H gliders?

How conductive is carbon fibre? Could a carbon skin carry the current of
a strike without damage (except and entrance and exit points?)

Thanks

Ian

[email protected]

September 29th 19, 02:08 PM

> Could a carbon skin carry the current of
> a strike without damage (except and entrance and exit points?)

If the entrance was up in the tail, and the exit down low, then from the pictures:

CF appears to be able to carry current because the fluffy stuff is localized to the entrance and the current went somewhere.

But that's a LOT of energy, so for my butt, it seems prudent to assume there was some other, so far unseen, structure damage along the path.

It would be interesting to look over the ground, trailer and then glider in more detail to hopefully find the exit. This might give some clues as to the current path thru the glider.

Also, I wonder if any of the control circuits feel different due to welding at moving joints.

Nick Kennedy[_3_]

September 29th 19, 03:40 PM

Even If it were throughly inspected and repaired I wouldn't buy that glider.
NFW
Just saying

JS[_5_]

September 29th 19, 06:44 PM

On Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 7:40:23 AM UTC-7, Nick Kennedy wrote:
> Even If it were throughly inspected and repaired I wouldn't buy that glider.
> NFW
> Just saying

I've seen many gliders fly after being totalled. Flown a lovely one that had been on fire.
My bet is that this glider will fly again.
Where are wagers placed?
Jim

Scott Williams

September 30th 19, 02:14 AM

On Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 12:44:34 PM UTC-5, JS wrote:
> On Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 7:40:23 AM UTC-7, Nick Kennedy wrote:
> > Even If it were throughly inspected and repaired I wouldn't buy that glider.
> > NFW
> > Just saying
>
>
> I've seen many gliders fly after being totalled. Flown a lovely one that had been on fire.
> My bet is that this glider will fly again.
> Where are wagers placed?
> Jim

I will bet a steak dinner for two, but my criterion for losing would be a fully documented repair of the existing airframe in compliance with factory repair procedures and full F.A.A. documentation and the name and address of the Inspector.
Steak dinner bet expires in 12 months.

But I admit I wish we lived in a world that would allow this bird to return to service.
P.S. Argentina does not count.
Scott

September 30th 19, 02:38 AM

On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 5:17:49 PM UTC-7, Gary Wayland wrote:
> On Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 7:48:57 PM UTC-4, Eric Greenwell wrote:
> > 2G wrote on 9/28/2019 3:30 PM:
> > > Lightning rods aren't used to conduct the current of a strike, but to dissipate the high electric field created before the strike, which prevents the strike from occurring (this is why you don't see large gauge wire going to the rod).
> >
> > I've read and heard several times that lightning rod systems can and do conduct a
> > lightning strike to ground. For example:
> >
> > "A lightning rod is very simple -- it's a pointed metal rod attached to the roof
> > of a building. The rod might be an inch (2 cm) in diameter. It connects to a huge
> > piece of copper or aluminum wire that's also an inch or so in diameter. The wire
> > is connected to a conductive grid buried in the ground nearby."
> >
> > https://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/lightning7.htm
> >
> > I'm sure some of them also work as you described, and that the system design
> > depends on the what's being protected and where it's situated.
>
> Trying to control lightning is like herding cats. You get it right every now and then...
>
> After fifty years, they mostly gave up driving ground rods for light poles. They realized they are one big waste of time and money. They serve no purpose as to there original intent. Some thought it was to protect from lightning, some to protect humans.
>
> We are installing new lightning protection on a 14 story building. Cost the owner about 100K. Who knows if it makes a difference or not. But, we all feel better knowing it's UL listed and approved! Hopefully, lighting will find those two 37 strand aluminum downlead wires to its liking...

UL only requires a 1/4 inch down conductor - now, how much current is that going to conduct. Well the answer is something in the neighborhood of 100A. The reason is that the induction of that conductor (yes, straight wires have inductance) will limit the current to that range. You have to ask yourself, that isn't much energy, where does all the rest go? To other potential conductors, is the answer.

[email protected]

October 1st 19, 01:50 PM

On Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 1:44:34 PM UTC-4, JS wrote:
> On Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 7:40:23 AM UTC-7, Nick Kennedy wrote:
> > Even If it were throughly inspected and repaired I wouldn't buy that glider.
> > NFW
> > Just saying
>
>
> I've seen many gliders fly after being totalled. Flown a lovely one that had been on fire.
> My bet is that this glider will fly again.
> Where are wagers placed?
> Jim

It will depend upon who may choose to accept the long term risk.
It is very reasonable to expect that a thorough inspection can determine the path the energy followed. Most likely it went to the elevator control circuit which is easy to trace. Witness marks on the trailer will be important and useful. Replacement of the vertical tail and aft fuselage would be the most straight forward repair. That section is about 9,000 Euros plus shipping.
The major issues for someone repairing this are:
1) Repair and refinishing cost; Value of these after completion would be on the order of $40,000 or so.
2) Next buyer will want at low price reflecting reluctance of future buyers.. Accordingly the margins won't be great.
3) Any future accident could lead to look back to history. Creative lawyer could have a field day with this given the Schleicher letter.
4) If someone qualified to inspect and repair the ship did it for himself, and kept it, they could do well.
I have brought a lot of "totalled" gliders back from the dead over the years. # 26 is in my shop now. Each has had an analysis of risk and reward before proceeding. Mostly this is "how hard and long, and what will we get for it?". That can be figured out. Rolling in the unknown forward liability risk is another matter.
Without the letter, it likely would be different. Ironically I have the fuselage and tail section needed, but it just got committed to another project..
My bet is that it will fly. I hope so. It's the only glider I know of with a lake dunking and a lightening hit.
UH

Steve Leonard[_2_]

October 1st 19, 03:41 PM

On Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 7:50:59 AM UTC-5, wrote:

> My bet is that it will fly. I hope so. It's the only glider I know of with a lake dunking and a lightening hit.
> UH

There is a no longer flying Discus A that took a lightning hit in flight, but met its final demise in a canyon near Bridgeport, California.

But, I agree, Admiral Nixon. That is a special 27. I hope it gets back in the air, too.

Steve Leonard

[email protected]

October 3rd 19, 02:49 PM

On Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at 8:40:06 PM UTC+3, Scott Williams wrote:
> One unpredictable consequence of a fiberglass topped Cobra!
> https://www-265.aig.com/AviationSalvage/salvagedetail.aspx?SalvageId=2911

I'm surprised no one is suggesting upgrading an ASW-20 (or other type) by replacing the wings ;-)

Steve Leonard[_2_]

October 4th 19, 03:05 AM

On Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 9:49:04 AM UTC-4, wrote:
>
> I'm surprised no one is suggesting upgrading an ASW-20 (or other type) by replacing the wings ;-)

Those conversations are not for the general public. ;-)

Steve Leonard

Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)

October 4th 19, 03:19 AM

Due to much smaller root of a 27, lots of work to mate 27 wings to a 20..,,.,

Nick Kennedy[_3_]

October 4th 19, 03:40 AM

A sharp Sawzall, a couple of gallons of Bondo and a pot of coffee should make short work of that 27 wings to 20 fuselage conversion.
What could possibly go wrong,? Same manufacture.
T

George Haeh

October 4th 19, 06:02 PM

In addition there is the small matter of replacing L'Hotelliers with the automatic hookups.

Tango Eight

October 4th 19, 06:16 PM

On Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:40:15 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
> A sharp Sawzall, a couple of gallons of Bondo and a pot of coffee should make short work of that 27 wings to 20 fuselage conversion.
> What could possibly go wrong,? Same manufacture.
> T

I think it's a job for John Shelton and Pez D. Spencer. Bring on the Lingus 23 1/2!

T8

JS[_5_]

October 5th 19, 04:28 PM

On Friday, October 4, 2019 at 10:17:01 AM UTC-7, Tango Eight wrote:
> On Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 10:40:15 PM UTC-4, Nick Kennedy wrote:
> > A sharp Sawzall, a couple of gallons of Bondo and a pot of coffee should make short work of that 27 wings to 20 fuselage conversion.
> > What could possibly go wrong,? Same manufacture.
> > T
>
> I think it's a job for John Shelton and Pez D. Spencer. Bring on the Lingus 23 1/2!
>
> T8

And you'd have the classic ASW20 flap mixer as a piece of art.
Jim

Steve Leonard[_2_]

October 7th 19, 07:52 PM

On Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 10:28:45 AM UTC-5, JS wrote:
>
> And you'd have the classic ASW20 flap mixer as a piece of art.
> Jim

For those that have never seen it in action, here you go!

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

Steve Leonard

Don Burns[_2_]

October 8th 19, 05:35 AM

At 21:25 27 September 2019, Dave Nadler wrote:
>On Friday, September 27, 2019 at 12:34:01 PM UTC-4, Dan Marotta
wrote:
>> Ain't it great when someone who knows what the HELL he's talking
about,
>> weighs in?
>
>Quite shocking.
>
>

Steve Leonard[_2_]

November 20th 19, 05:18 PM

So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!

Steve Leonard

JS[_5_]

November 20th 19, 06:40 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
>
> Steve Leonard

Wasn't you then.
Jim

Steve Leonard[_2_]

November 20th 19, 07:09 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 12:40:22 PM UTC-6, JS wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
> >
> > Steve Leonard
>
> Wasn't you then.
> Jim

I bid, but not enough.

Steve Leonard

Bob Kuykendall

November 20th 19, 07:20 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:09:56 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:

> I bid, but not enough.

Likewise.

Jonathan St. Cloud

November 20th 19, 07:54 PM

Tango Eight

November 20th 19, 08:19 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 2:54:41 PM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
> >
> > Steve Leonard
>
> Is there a citation to the story of the lake landing? I must have stepped away from soaring then.

You need to watch "A Fine Week of Soaring".

T8

Steve Leonard[_2_]

November 20th 19, 08:25 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 1:54:41 PM UTC-6, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
> >
> > Steve Leonard
>
> Is there a citation to the story of the lake landing? I must have stepped away from soaring then.

SOARING, August 1999.

Darryl Ramm

November 20th 19, 08:36 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:09:56 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 12:40:22 PM UTC-6, JS wrote:
> > On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > > So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
> > >
> > > Steve Leonard
> >
> > Wasn't you then.
> > Jim
>
> I bid, but not enough.
>
> Steve Leonard

If it remains in the USA, you'll own it eventually. :-)

Steve Leonard[_2_]

November 20th 19, 11:01 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 2:36:50 PM UTC-6, Darryl Ramm wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:09:56 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 12:40:22 PM UTC-6, JS wrote:
> > > On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 9:18:05 AM UTC-8, Steve Leonard wrote:
> > > > So, anyone brave enough to admit that they were the high bidder on this rare sailplane? As Hank said, not many have landed in a lake AND been struck by lightning!
> > > >
> > > > Steve Leonard
> > >
> > > Wasn't you then.
> > > Jim
> >
> > I bid, but not enough.
> >
> > Steve Leonard
>
> If it remains in the USA, you'll own it eventually. :-)

Doubtful, Darryl. It may well find a new fuselage to go with the wings and horizontal tail. I have an RS-15 fuselage that could have made a fun project for those parts. I do hope the high bidder on the plane also bought the trailer. Makes for much easier transport.

No, I didn't bid enough on the trailer, either.

Steve Leonard

[email protected]

November 21st 19, 12:20 AM

Needing a particular part, I have asked AIG who got the high bid on salvage in the past. They told me who received the high bid, but would not disclose what the high bid was.
JJ

Ramy[_2_]

November 21st 19, 04:38 AM

Well, with such free advertising on RAS I bet the winning bid was relatively high ;)

Ramy

[email protected]

November 21st 19, 06:44 AM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 8:38:03 PM UTC-8, Ramy wrote:
> Well, with such free advertising on RAS I bet the winning bid was relatively high ;)
>
> Ramy

How many volts and watts are in lightning?
Lightning can have 100 million to 1 billion volts, and contains billions of watts.
I looked up some lightning info and found this site.
https://www.nssl.noaa.gov/education/svrwx101/lightning/faq/

[email protected]

November 21st 19, 01:43 PM

On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:38:03 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
> Well, with such free advertising on RAS I bet the winning bid was relatively high ;)
>
> Ramy

The people who are likely to be able to undertake projects like this watch the AIG site. I doubt RAS affected the bidding.
From the buyer of about two dozen "totaled" gliders.
UH

Ramy[_2_]

November 23rd 19, 03:41 AM

UH, your collection of totaled gliders saved me from being grounded an extra couple of month thanks to your canopy frame.
And the fear of being grounded for long time initiated my decision to start looking for a new glider, resulting in upgrading to a 29 six month later.
Thanks you!

Ramy

November 24th 19, 12:19 AM

On Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 5:43:23 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:38:03 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
> > Well, with such free advertising on RAS I bet the winning bid was relatively high ;)
> >
> > Ramy
>
> The people who are likely to be able to undertake projects like this watch the AIG site. I doubt RAS affected the bidding.
> From the buyer of about two dozen "totaled" gliders.
> UH

UH, how many of these two dozen gliders were returned to airworthiness and how many were parted out?

Tom

[email protected]

November 24th 19, 03:47 PM

On Saturday, November 23, 2019 at 7:19:39 PM UTC-5, 2G wrote:
> On Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 5:43:23 AM UTC-8, wrote:
> > On Wednesday, November 20, 2019 at 11:38:03 PM UTC-5, Ramy wrote:
> > > Well, with such free advertising on RAS I bet the winning bid was relatively high ;)
> > >
> > > Ramy
> >
> > The people who are likely to be able to undertake projects like this watch the AIG site. I doubt RAS affected the bidding.
> > From the buyer of about two dozen "totaled" gliders.
> > UH
>
> UH, how many of these two dozen gliders were returned to airworthiness and how many were parted out?
>
> Tom

3 became donors.
# 26 back from the dead is getting final painting now.
The ASW-27 helped save 4 others.
Still have 5 1-26E wings on the rack and enough stuff to do one more some time.
FWIW
UH