Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/07/26

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Subject: Re: [Leica] why leica?
From: "Dale Reed" <dale-reed@worldnet.att.net>
Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 14:50:46 -0800

> If it wasn't made out of plastic so it wouldn't attract lightning in
the first place?!

There will always will be some metal(electrical and hydraulic systems)
to attract and conduct the lightning.
The 777 empennage leading edges and an internal beam or two are
aluminum. Eventually there will be fuel(with their associated systems)
carried in graphite composite wings.

The threeat is a multi-stroke 200,000 Amp threat with the electrical
systems being protected(Transorbs, etc.) internally to 600 Volts.  That
means I required hundeds of pounds of wire braid and other shielding.
If you have ever worked on the design of a commercial airplane, where
every ounce counts, you now know why my hair is so gray and I have all
these scars.

But not to worry.

A Leica sort of guy engineered the protection.  And if it is not Boeing
I am not going.   Dale
- ---
$ dale-reed@worldnet.att.net  Seattle, Washington U.S.A. $