I Just Put About 10 kV To My Rails!

[gmpullman]

When parking an aircraft, immediately after chocking one wheel the static ground was installed, first to bare metal on the bird, then to an approved static ring in the pavement. Sometimes that second connection could get pyrotechnic!

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - in a Southern Nevada garage)

Chuck,

The aircraft reference reminded me of a warning that was given to ground personnel not to touch the winch line being lowered from a helicopter until it touches the ground. Maybe I saw this in a movie or something, but it stuck with me. I guess you can get a pretty good zap if you touch the line before it discharges the static.

Pretty neat stuff here:

http://realitypod.com/2011/03/helicopter-static-electricity-phenomenon-explained-corona-effect/

I have read about people who make repairs to live high tension lines from a helicopter by “tying off” to the line and essentially becoming one with the line voltage, like a bird on a wire! No thanks, I’ll keep my present job…

Ed

[rrinker]

A good example of what happens with the winch cables can be found in the movie “Hunt for Red October” when they are lowering Ryan to the sub.

–Randy