What phenomenon occurs when an aircraft is flying through precipitation static?

The phenomenon that occurs when an aircraft is flying through precipitation static is St. Elmo's fire. This visual effect is caused by the ionization of the surrounding air as the aircraft moves through precipitation, leading to a glowing discharge that can often be seen on sharp edges or protrusions of the aircraft, such as antennas or wingtips.

St. Elmo's fire is not dangerous and is essentially a weather-related electrical phenomenon, which can also be an indication of static electricity build-up. Pilots might recognize it during flight in stormy or heavily precipitative environments.

In contrast, static discharge refers to the release of accumulated static electricity, which could happen in various contexts but does not describe the visual effect seen during flying through precipitation. Ground effect is related to changes in lift and drag when an aircraft is close to the ground, while wake turbulence involves disturbances in air caused by other aircraft and does not relate to precipitation experiences.