Interpretation of Inflight LEMP Interaction with the NASA F106 Research Aircraft

Abstract

An FI06 thunderstorm research aircraft specifi­ cally instrumented to detect electric and magnetic fields caused by lightning has been flown in the vicinity of thunderstorms by NASA. The measured data include records of dD/dt (displacement current) and dB/dt (magnetic flux) as a function of time on the skin of the aircraft. Data from both attached and nearby strokes have been obtained. This paper deals with the lightning electromagnetic pulse (LEMP) from nearby strokes. Presented here is an interpre­ tation of this data based on numerical fin ite d if­ ference modeling of the interaction. The numerical results are compared to the measured data, and conclusions regarding the incident LEMP waveforms are given.