Boeing Donates Lightning-Strike Technology

PHILADELPHIA, April 28 -- The Boeing Co. has donated to Villanova University technology for software designed to predict the indirect effects of lightning strikes on composite aircraft structures.

The Blitzen software program, developed by Boeing Philadelphia's Jack Nachamkin, can accurately model the effects of lightning strikes on the electrical wiring and electronic components of composite aircraft. The application has been validated through instrumented lightning testing and will be further developed by students at Villanova University’s Antenna Research Laboratory.

In addition to the software, Villanova University will receive the test data, a draft version of a user’s manual and 80 hours of technical assistance. The students intend to write a detailed manual, extend the software’s intended frequencies, publish papers describing theories and operations and develop plans for future commercialization of the project.

For more information, visit: www.boeing.com