2007-09-26 07:26:30 · 6 answers · asked by bnguyenhusd 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
Sorry Randy c, wrong. Any altitude above the condensation level will allow for the production of contrails if there is enough moisture. Generally speaking, there is more moisture content at the lower to mid twenty thousand feet levels than at higher, colder altitudes although not always. Actually as you go higher, you eventually get to a point where there is not enough water vapor in the air to condense into a contrail no matter how cold it is.
2007-09-26 09:10:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
The DC-10 and Lockheed Tristar are three engined wide body jets with an engine in the tail.They are often flown on medium range domestic flights.Depending on the moisture content in the air,a jet engine will exhaust "Steam".This has occured ever since flights over 10,000 feet have been common.The propellor driven bombers of world war 2 had a problem with it as it gives your position away.My favorite pictures are of B-17's over Germany with "Contrails".
2007-09-26 19:10:13 · answer #2 · answered by gary s 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not smoke. It is condensation coming from the engine exhaust. Whether you see it or not depends on the amount of moisture in the air.
2007-09-26 14:35:18 · answer #3 · answered by Otto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are called contrails. It is not smoke, its just like on a cold day you breath out of your mouth and you see what looks like smoke, same principal
2007-09-26 14:36:32 · answer #4 · answered by Ozzie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The previous answers are correct, I'd only add that the higher a plane is flying, the colder the air, so the more "contrail" it puts out.
2007-09-26 14:41:34 · answer #5 · answered by randy 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yeah we don't put out much of a contrail at FL450 sorry Randy
2007-09-26 18:54:49 · answer #6 · answered by Mike Tyson 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋