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AFTER BRIEFLY considering the surface areas of aircraft for which lightning strikes are a major factor in the selection of constructional materials, a review is made of published information concerning the effects of lightning on these various materials. The materials are considered under three headings: metallic, non‐conducting (e.g. glass‐fibre‐reinforced‐plastics) and semi‐conducting (e.g. carbon‐fibre‐reinforced plastics). Simulated lightning current tests are the main source of information and the review is primarily concerned with the results of such tests. To aid assessment of the relevance of the test currents that have been used, an outline of the current characteristics of lightning discharges is also given.