2007-03-28 08:17:12 · 8 answers · asked by HENRY W 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
You said around the aircraft and not behind the aircraft.
Behind the aircraft would be a contrail.
Around the aircraft , like the aircraft is going through a white ring, is caused by the aircraft breaking the sound barrier.
Water vapor in the air is forced out into droplets, which look cloudlike. What you are seeing is the actual "sound barrier" , or a transonic shock cloud.
2007-03-28 09:00:34 · answer #1 · answered by AviationMetalSmith 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Assuming that you aren't an air force type, then the 'white cloud' you see may be the result of the pressure reductions that occur around the aircraft being highlighted under high humidity conditions.
The localised reduction in pressure that occurs in vortices on wing tips etc causes water vapour to condense and become visible. Its true that large scale examples can be seen on transonic operations, but its evident on ordinary aircraft at fairly low speed when they are operating in high humidity or precipitation conditions.
2007-03-29 03:11:05 · answer #2 · answered by Ranjeeh D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hot air released by the aircraft causes condensation in the cold upper atmosphere. The cloud is just a fog made of water droplets.
2007-03-28 08:41:11 · answer #3 · answered by lepninja 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
two things, you are either talking about a contrail, which happens when the hot vapor from the engines meets the cold air and condenses into crystals, or you are talking about a cloud that forms when an aircraft goes faster than the sound barrier (Mach 1).
2007-03-28 13:00:22 · answer #4 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Damn airport restaurant burrito and refried beans n pintos last night got me gassed up to beat the band, leakin out around cockpit window seals.
2007-03-28 14:59:22 · answer #5 · answered by baron_von_party 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Its called Contrails.
2007-03-28 08:46:48 · answer #6 · answered by ZUS 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is shaped like a cone, then the plane is going supersonic.
2007-03-28 09:12:41 · answer #7 · answered by Dan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This happens at speeds less then supersonic.
It has to do with variances in air pressure around the surfaces of the airplane. It must be quite humid for it to happen.
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2007-03-28 13:05:58 · answer #8 · answered by Doop De Doop 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋