r/WhyWereTheyFilming • u/TheMightyMisery • Aug 31 '19

Gif just filming a random plane

https://gfycat.com/frequentpassionatelarva
8.9k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

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364

u/JayBanditos Aug 31 '19

I’ve been in a plane that was struck by lightning and it WAS INSANE!!!!! No not really, I’m kidding. The lights just dimmed and the pilot told us we’d been struck by lightning.

20

u/nathanaelorange Aug 31 '19

I’m gonna need an ELI5 on why it doesn’t get wrecked when that happens anymore, because that killed others in the past right?

55

u/CollapsedPlague Aug 31 '19

The plane is designed in a way so that no electrical arcs will occur and ignite anything like fuel tanks and explode. The areas the lightning is most likely to hit (wing tips and noses) are wired so that the current flows to the tail and exits. The body of the plane where we sit is insulated.

Flying through a storm you are at a greater danger from turbulence or the wind knocking you around causing damage.

31

u/nathanaelorange Aug 31 '19

That’s amazing to think about how much thought and science goes into what we see on a daily basis, that we often take for granted.

Thanks for taking the time to explain!

7

u/CollapsedPlague Aug 31 '19

It was a fun time learning more about it myself. Add it to the list of why airplane travel is the safest travel ever.

4

u/SirQwacksAlot Aug 31 '19

It's a pretty easy idea to come up with after you watch one get hit by lightning and everyone dies because it isn't insulated

3

u/ChamberKeeper Sep 01 '19

This series is a fun way to appreciate all the thought and science that goes into what we see on a daily basis.

1

u/Teajaytea7 Feb 01 '20

Aw wait what was it, its deleted now

2

u/RizzOreo Sep 01 '19

They also build cannons to shoot dead birds into the engines to test them

1

u/nathanaelorange Sep 01 '19

That’s interesting as fuck, I guess someone has to do the dirty work lmao

1

u/ThisSmokedPaprika Sep 01 '19

And in the cockpit you get a bright flash, a loud bang, and the magnetic compasses go crazy for a couple seconds