Page 113 - EAA78.Newsletter.Archives.(February.2017-July.2021)

nd
Experimental Aircraft Association May, 2017 (2 Edition)
Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania Volume 41, Number 05
Doylestown Airport (KDYL)
3879 Old Easton Rd.
Doylestown, PA 18902
Meets: Last Wed each of month (7:30 PM)

CHAPTER CHATTER

Chapter Number 78 Flying Through History

Plane Facts: Thunderstorms

Average yearly cost of severe TS damage - US:
$10 billion

Number of TS worldwide/year: 16 million

Average number of TS in progress at any given
time - Worldwide: 2,000

Number of TS U.S./year: 100,000

Most likely time of year: Spring/Summer
Percentage of storms that classify as severe:
Most likely time of day, Gulf Coast, 10%
Southeastern and Western States: Afternoon
Lightning temp: Up to 30,000°C (54,032°F)
Most likely time of day, Plains States: Late
afternoon/Night Temperature of the Sun: 5,778K (5,505°C)

State with most days with thunderstorms: Lightning speed, leader: 136,000 mph
Florida
Length of leader steps: 150 feet
Average TS cell diameter: 15 miles
Lightning speed, return stroke (visible flash):
Average duration: 30 minutes 62,000,000 mph

Average TS max wind speed: 34-40 mph Estimated peak power, single stroke:
1,000,000,000,000 watts
Average TS tops: 40,000 feet
Lightning fatalities, U.S., 2016: 38, 76% male
Max recorded TS top: 75,000 feet
Lightning fatalities, U.S., 2006-2016: 352, 79%
Associated aviation dangers: Lightning, male
turbulence, wind shear, downbursts, icing, hail,
engine water ingestion, reduced visibility Average frequency of lightning striking an
aircraft: Once every 1,000 flight hours
Severe storm qualifications: Hail 1”+ diameter,
winds 58 mph+ (50 kts), tornadic activity