To expand on my previous statement;
Most of the energy in lightning is lost to heat, by the time it reaches its striking point not much is left (relative to the bolts "potential" energy)...but it sure looks cool.
Although lightning is high in volts it is low in energy. Volts are not a unit of energy. If you were to build something to capture it it would run your house for about 15-30 secs.
The other problem would be forecasting it (currently not possible unless Doc got shot in the mall parking lot...
I appreciate your input thus far. As far as the example of Boeing shooting the chickens at their planes, I think it might be a little misleading. I have flown jets in the Navy for the last 9 years and have seen small birds destroy engines and go through wings/ canopies...I have a roommate who...
Two questions, answer either or both;
1) Will an airplane in flight sustain more damage (due to more total kinetic energy) from hitting a turkey vulture size bird (that's big for those non-ornithologist types)? Or will the bird simply be "vaporized" on impact and the airplane sustain less...