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    Why do some high flying jets leave white trails across the sky, but commercial airliners do not?

    Question #77305. Asked by RabidJester. (Mar 15 07 6:54 PM)


    skypilot024

    		Commercial airliners do, in fact, leave contrails.
    Contrails will only occur when the outside air temperature around the aircraft is at or below -57 degrees Celsius.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail

    Mar 15 07, 7:38 PM
    What-A-Mess

    		A contrail is a Condensation Trail that is formed by the compressive properties of Turbine Engines. They can also be formed by the swirling winds that come off of the tips of wings. You will see WTV's when a plane make a sudden aerodynamic maneuver that causes excessive air compression.

    A similar phenomena can occur when a Jet exceeds the speed of sound.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_barrier

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sound_barrier

    Mar 15 07, 8:52 PM
    RabidJester

    		Thanks!

    Mar 16 07, 6:43 AM
    What-A-Mess

    		Note above...WTV is "Wing Tip Vortices".

    Mar 18 07, 11:43 AM

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