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What causes clouds? Contrails are formed when more moisture is in the air than can stay in suspension. Usually caused when the air is compressed at the wingtips. I have seen Sheets of 'contrails' form along the upper surface of C-141s doing touch and gos at Charleston AFB on early summer mornings. They created such a layer that they changes the pattern around to come from the other end.
Contrails come from the engines. One byproduct of combustion is water vapor, which freezes into ice crystals upon exhaust from the engines. A greater relative humidity in the air, which precedes weather fronts, increases the likelyhood on their formation.
Contrails come from the engines. One byproduct of combustion is water vapor, which freezes into ice crystals upon exhaust from the engines. A greater relative humidity in the air, which precedes weather fronts, increases the likelyhood on their formation.
^ Best explanation. A byproduct of the internal combustion engine.
The greater the humidity, the more persistent the contrails. That's why some only trail a short distance behind an aircraft and some stretch from horizon to horizon.
Side note: From a tactical standpoint, they can be a bad thing. In the F-16 we would brief the contrail flight level which would be predicted on the weather sheet. It was usually quite accurate. Its significance? If a tactical aircraft is leaving a white cloud behind it, it's telling the world "Here I am". So if we were going to fly near the con levels a formation of aircraft might test the level by climbing toward it and once the contrails started (the brevity term is "marking") we'd avoid going any higher than that.
^ Best explanation. A byproduct of the internal combustion engine.
The greater the humidity, the more persistent the contrails. That's why some only trail a short distance behind an aircraft and some stretch from horizon to horizon.
Side note: From a tactical standpoint, they can be a bad thing. In the F-16 we would brief the contrail flight level which would be predicted on the weather sheet. It was usually quite accurate. Its significance? If a tactical aircraft is leaving a white cloud behind it, it's telling the world "Here I am". So if we were going to fly near the con levels a formation of aircraft might test the level by climbing toward it and once the contrails started (the brevity term is "marking") we'd avoid going any higher than that.
well said. that is one of the problems the air force had in world war two is the contrails. they would have some formations fly in the contrails, some below and some above. unfortunately however that still meant that the enemy knew they were coming, and what their course was.
I just learn the other day there are 1000's people who think the world is flat. Chemtrails must be from those same people
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