On approach to Teterboro NJ, USA (KTEB) in a Dassault Falcon 7X at about 12,000 ft, in cloud with light rain but no CB's on the radar, we were struck by lightening. There was a big flash and a loud boom. We did not lose any radios, systems or controles. Controles are a big deal on this aircraft because it is fly by wire. There are no cables.
As our base is in Brazil, after landing our Maint. Manager asked me to look around the aircraft to see if we had really been hit. I reported that the hit was on the left side of the aircraft, given the flash I saw.
It then occurred to me that after 32 years in and 4 lightning strikes later, I had no idea what to look for. After combing the left side for about 15 minutes, finding nothing and breathing a huge sigh of releif I went to the right side, convinced that we had dodged the bullet. Duhhh, the two "exit wounds" on the right aileron were easy to see. I never did notice the two "entrance wounds" on the right outboard slat. The slat and aileron are toast.
Lesson learned: You really have to give the aircraft a solid going over...everywhere. (Which the factory reps did later that night)
No damage to any system was found.
The round black thing in the picture of the slats is a pen to give scale in the picture.
It seems we got hit twice, which sort of shoots that "lightning doesn't hit twice" theory all to hell.
I realize that each strike is different, but because I had never been shown what to look for I thought that these pictures might make you more aware of what this may look like should it happen to you.
All pictures are of the right aileron and right outboard slat.
edited because I posted the pictures twice and wording
