what are Indication/signs of lightning damage on aircraft?

Benita Nancy: for b737-400 aircrafti heard about the aircraft will be magnetized after been struck by lightning strike

Rocio Karvis: Avionics and radio not working is a good start. If it is a metal air frame with metal skin it may have a burnt mark on the top of the fuselage or on the belly of the plane. If you suspect lightning damage don't risk it; report it or if you own it, take it to a certified mechanic and have him look it over.

Irving Jordahl: Practically none on military aircraft.

Pamela Meno: You will need to be a little more specific in your question. There may be nothing more than a small almost invisible "burn" mark on the skin or the aircraft may be totally destroyed! Aircraft are hit by lightning much more often than people think and usually nothing at all happens to them!In fact Scientific American has a report that says "It is estimated that on average, each airplane in the U.S. commercial fleet is struck lightly by lightning more t! han once each year. In fact, aircraft often trigger lightning when flying through a heavily charged region of a cloud. ......." see http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=w...A little search for "Lightning Damage to Aircraft" will give you more information than you can use! You can start with Snopes http://www.snopes.com/photos/airplane/lightning.as...Some Composite aircraft may actually have parts blown off by lightning. So what aircraft are you asking about? What size aircraft, what material is it made from, what size of strike?Edit - I know this edit will move me down in the list, however, you simply can not magnetize aluminum! Even lightning won't! Don't know who or where you heard that but that just isn't correct at all. Most aircraft that are struck will have little to NO DAMAGE whatever. Just see the links posted for you....Show more