The white lines sometimes seen in the sky trailing an aircraft.
Questions tagged [contrails]
34 questions
18
votes
2 answers
How long does it take for a contrail to hit the ground?
I'm not even sure if they end up falling to earth, or if they accumulate and form/join other clouds or whatnot, which is part of the reason I'm asking this question.
In contrails, heavier particles fall faster than the light ones, so as the contrail…
Tyler
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15
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3 answers
Why are contrails not visible from the cabin?
If you observe a plane flying whilst on the ground, plenty of times you will see contrails:
Why are they not visible from the plane itself when sitting in the most rear part of the cabin even by trying to look towards the rear of the plane…
Fabrizio Mazzoni
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9
votes
2 answers
Why don't the contrails show the curvature of the Earth?
When we see contrails in the sky, let's say traveling left/right in your vision, you are seeing across a sky that is easily a couple of hundred miles wide. I mean, we can see one side of space and then another, so we can see across a great distance…
Chris
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9
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3 answers
Where do aerodynamical contrails get their condensation nuclei from, when forming at high altitude?
On this website, it is explained how aerodynamical contrails form:
It’s formed by the reduction of pressure in the air as it moves over the wing. When the pressure of a gas falls, then its temperature also falls (the same principle as is used by…
Noah Krasser
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6
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1 answer
How to read the Appleman chart to predict contrail formation?
I stumbled upon the Appleman-chart, that makes it possible to predict the formation of contrails.
How do I use this chart?
Noah Krasser
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3
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Where do contrails that grow wider get their condensation nuclei from?
When a contrail occurs in a pure and over-saturated air in high altitude, it's also because of the engines emit condensation nuclei.
But if the contrail expands in a wider cirrus, where do the contrails gets the condensation nuclei from? (I'm…
vmonteco
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2
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Why are some jet trails longer and some shorter?
One can see jet trails behind an airplane. I know that they form because of rapid condensation of Jet exhaust. But I can't figure out why some remain for too long time (hence, longer) while some are smaller and disappear rapidly. Does this depend…
Abhishek Verma
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Why more contrails over Porto than Brisbane
I have family members hell bent on the Chemtrail conspiracy and aircraft spraying stuff on us.
I’m trying to explain it’s to do with altitude, moisture and temperature.
But I need a bit of help. We’re from Brisbane, Australia and we’re visiting…
Craig
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Can I log a VFR XC toward 141 commercial license while simulating instrument
I flew last night with a friend to split time. Half the flight I wore foggles, half the flight he did So we could both be PIC And both have approach/landing practice. Could I log all of that simulated instrument time into a 141 VFR XC commercial…
June
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