Re: Lightning Storm - Flying Kites and the Incredibly Stupid

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Original poster: "Daniel McCauley" <dhmccauley@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Sounds like an incredibly stupid experiment.  As a lightning photographer, I
have seen rogue lightning strike out of the blue perhaps 20-50 miles
upstream of a given storm.  Several times, close-by, in practically clear
conditions (just few cumulus type clouds)!



> "I did some experements and have been flying a kite on #24 copper wire
> 200 ft long.  I have not detected any static charge with an NE2 neon
> light on sunny days.  It is very interesting to note the neon light
> will light up if there is a thunder storm 20 miles away.   Every time
> the NE2 flashes it must mean a lightning strike in the thunder
> storm.  I do not fly the kite if it is cloudy or over cast or any
> thunder storms in the near by area.  Flying a control line model
> airplane on 60 ft metal cables is not much different than flying a
> kite on copper wire.
>
> I sure would hate to get zapped by lightning.
>
> Gary Weaver"