An Initiation of Ball Lightning in an Aircraft

Abstract The detailed observation of ball lightning in an aircraft gives strong evidence that the ball lightning was initiated by preceding corona from metallic diverter strips attached to the surface of the radome. These diverter strips are designed to direct current from a lightning strike to the radome towards the aircraft fuselage in order to protect the radar antenna. The charging of the aircraft can be generated by ambient atmospheric electric fields or by precipitation when rain or fog droplets collide with the surface of the aircraft. Corona and thus copious ions were produced in close proximity to the front cockpit windows. The observation supports proposals that ball lightning can develop from electric fields within an aircraft fuselage, or indeed within a house, originating from the accumulation of ions at the outside surface of an aircraft windshield or a window pane. The observation suggests that ball lightning may be initiated through a corona discharge without the necessity of an initial lightning strike. Both authors have personally observed ball lightning.