Abstract- The two common types of lightning flashes that
interact with both land systems and airborne systems are
the cloud to ground (CG), or downward flashes, and the
ground to cloud (GC), or upward flashes. In this paper we
report on the direct effect of lightning strike on an aircraft
when subject to both GC and CG flashes. The paper
utilizes the transmission line based model simulation of
both CG and GC flashes and compares the engineering
parameters of both types of earth flashes. The paper also
examines the first return current stroke and voltages
induced when aircraft is subject to a direct lightning strike
at various altitudes. A significant increase of current and
voltage was observed on the aircraft frame due to direct
lightning strike. Thus, the magnitudes of peak current
and voltage observed are capable of inducing a higher
electric field along the surface since the time transient is
short which can have severe effects on the aircraft
electrical and electronics systems.
Keywords- aircraft-lightning electrodynamics; transmission line