----- Original Message -----
> Ajhsys@aol.com wrote:
> > If the wire melts, you will still lose the lights
>
> No, not true, first you get dim lights, them dim lights
> and smoke, then really dim lights and lots of smoke, then
> maybe finally just smoke, spread out over a few seconds or
> more.
>
> A lot better than "BLAM: Darkness"; you have time to
> pull over and contemplate your fate.
>
We lost a Boeing 757-204 last year to this. Lights went out on the airport
when the plane was at about 150 feet in a thunderstorm. Sudden darkness.
By the time they hit the power the plane struck the tarmac (right on the
correct point) but the nose leg failed and shoved the entire nose leg
assembly up through the flight deck floor. Unfortunately it smashed through
the electrics bay on the way through and pulled one thrust lever to idle and
the other to full reverse. Broke the fuselage into three pieces and ripped
all of the undercarriage and engines off. Everyone survived!!!!!!!!!
Losing the lights at night on your car must be very similar. So far out of
the ordinary that it takes a few moments for the "Oh Shit!" factor to finish
and for you to decide what to do.
Of course, doing it at 55 on an 8-lane interstate with lighting must be a
little easier than 165 on an unlit Spanish airport in a thunderstorm!
Now, aren't Spridgets wired so that the front sidelights are wired through a
separate system from the headlights? If you lose the headlights, do you not
keep the sidelights? Never understood electrics so would be gratefukl for
an explanation.
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