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General Weather/Earth Sciences Topics => Aviation Weather => Topic started by: galfert on February 20, 2020, 10:43:39 PM

Title: Pilots aboard Hurricane Hunter plane experience St. Elmo's Fire
Post by: galfert on February 20, 2020, 10:43:39 PM

https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/pilots-aboard-hurricane-hunter-plane-chasing-a-winter-storm-experience-strange-phenomenon/684864/amp

https://youtu.be/Lgv-3ITbOm4

An experienced hurricane hunting crew chasing a winter storm came across a far different discovery this past weekend. In what is known as St. Elmo’s fire, footage of the forking electric discharge was captured on Saturday by pilots as the spectacle flashed throughout the cockpit.

Title: Re: Pilots aboard Hurricane Hunter plane experience St. Elmo's Fire
Post by: CW2274 on February 20, 2020, 10:55:06 PM

I've witnessed this myself flying jump seat on an MD88 about 100 miles east of Tucson heading home during monsoon season. My encounter was much more subtle and continuous around the frame of the windshield. Fascinating to see.

Title: Re: Pilots aboard Hurricane Hunter plane experience St. Elmo's Fire
Post by: Vette-kid on February 22, 2020, 05:56:19 AM

Fairly common and not necessarily related to storms.  I saw it frequently when I was flying larger planes up high.  Pretty cool to see at night.

Title: Re: Pilots aboard Hurricane Hunter plane experience St. Elmo's Fire
Post by: K2GW on July 25, 2020, 05:45:01 PM

Shouldn't the static wicks on the trailing edge of the wing discharge this?