Electrostatic Dischargers for Aircraft

Methods of discharging static electricity from aircraft in flight so as to reduce or eliminate corona interference, commonly known as precipitation static, are discussed. These methods have been classified into those employing either gaseous ions (high mobility), or those employing charge carriers such as water spray or dust particles (low mobility). Devices within the first classification offer the better solution to the problem from a practical standpoint. A discharger invented and developed at the Naval Research Laboratory is described.