Wendover Coil Vs USAF lightning TesT?

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Original poster: syd <tesla@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

That coil is running great! Anyone know how much power is being fed to it 
in this video?

Must admit that the USAF 'lightning test' claims are absurd. The only 
similarity between tesla coil arcs and atmospheric lightning is that they 
look alike, somewhat, and that they are beautiful to watch. I can't imagine 
a single useful piece of lightning survivability data that could be derived 
from from spraying a little model plane with perhaps a couple milliamperes 
of RF alternating current, when lightning strikes it carry tens of 
thousands (more?) of DC amperes. Seems that a massive Van de Graaf 
generator, or Marx bank would better simulate the effects of an actual 
lightning strike.

But whether it was a PR stunt, or just a way to reach into the deep pockets 
of the U.S. Military, I'm glad the machine was able to be built!

~syd klinge