Fw: Re: Topband: Lightning Protection

[k6se@juno.com]

Mike, W4EF wrote:

"The pointed static dischargers mentioned in this discussion are used on
almost every commercial and military aircraft in the world."
==========
They were also in widespread use on aircraft back in the '50s when I was
an avionics technician.  They came in two varieties -- a
carbonized.thread type and a steel wire type.  The more popular
carbonized thread types were known as "static wicks".  They were attached
to the training edges of the wings and tail to discharge any corona
buildup on the aircraft as it flew through rain or snow.  Presumably the
static would discharge off of the static wicks rther than off of the
radio antennas, thereby reducing the precipitation static noise in the
radios.

I've often wondered if static wicks would work on my tower verticals
during blowing snow or rain, at which times the precipitation static is
sometimes S9 + 40 on topband.

73, de Earl, K6SE
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