Dash 8 with a con trail.

[magpienja]

Seen something I have never seen before this afternoon a Dash 8 at about 16-18000ft (estimate) with a very very long and straight con trail heading south between Liverpool and Warrington,

The last time I saw a turbo prop with a con trail was in the 60s it was a BEA Vanguard 24000ft on its way to Belfast going up red 3 over Liverpool, I know it was 24000ft I was listening to it on my VHF Skymaster radio, good days when the a/c used there reg as a callsign.

Nick.

[skytrain10]

Not a common sight, but it does happen at lower altitudes depending on atmospheric conditions. Saw a FlyBe Dash-8 with a long trail passing over Strumble last weekend. Cruise altitude was 23,000 ft. Last year I saw a Saab 2000 on a similar route, again with a long trail. Of course props at high altitudes leave vapour trails just as jets do...have seen a Super King Air on more than one occasion with a pencil thin trail out behind it.

I'll leave the more technically minded to explain why it happens!

Ken

[adverse-bump]

what sort of time was this?

[magpienja]

3pm approx.

Nick.

[Avman]

I remember the beautiful sight of a CL-44 trailing over Limbabwe, on its way to EGSS, sometime back in the late seventies.

[Musket90]

magpienja

Vanguards more often than not cruised at FL180 to Belfast from Heathrow, similar to Glasgow and Edinburgh, so very unusual to be at 24,000ft. Are you sure it wasn't a Trident or Comet as this was often the cruising level they used?

[magpienja]

Gee if I got confused between a trident/comet and a vanguard I would be very disappointed in myself, I could even tell it was a vanguard just by the sound of the engines,

Even thought it was many years ago I still remember it 24000ft and yes I agree it was very unusual to be above 20000ft.

Nick.

[Avman]

When I worked at PATCC it wasn't unusual to see Vanguards between FL210 and FL240. We had an airmiss with a Vanguard at FL240 being caught up by a Trident. Turned out to be c/s confusion by LATCC with BE5055 (to EGPF) and BE5505 (to EGPH). On our strips we had the Trident showing as being in front of the Vanguard when it was in fact the reverse.

Amazing that I can remember those details when I can't remember what I did this morning :\

[stepwilk]

Doesn't have to be a turbine at extreme altitudes to leave a contrail. A piston exhaust in the FL20s will do just fine. Think B-17.

[startingout]

http://www.491st.org/godshall/contrail.jpg

Prop Contrails :ok:

[Yobbo]

I saw a DC-3 take off at Quebec City in the early seventies leave a contrail. Mind you it was in Jan and the OAT was -31.

[Load Toad]

Can I just ask...are contrails really so exciting and interesting? I must be missing something given the interest in them - to me it's a sort of white cloudy thingy in a line that disappears over time yet they seem to create much interest and debate - is there a con trail pr0n site that I could spend a couple of minutes viewing whilst engaging in some brief aerobic exercise?

[magpienja]

load toad I think it must be you.

Nick.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Load Toad.... Not so much the contrail but what's in front of it which interests me more; even more if it's sending ADS-B! However, I do have a life long interest in the weather so the contrails are of interest too.

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

They can be interesting!
I have been sky gawking for many years and find trails can be of great interest.
Time was in the 60s/70s I could tell what A/C was trailing by the nature of the Trail. Lots of different types then Civil and Military. V bombers were very distinctive
I live in East Anglia and most recent enjoyment was A C130 Trailing in a Moonlit sky, like a Silver Ribbon combined with the unique sound.
I also like the trails at Sunset, makes for some nice photography.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[treadigraph]

I also like the trails at Sunset, makes for some nice photography.


Certainly does, not bad tonight. Not that I had a camera!

Only time I've seen the AN-22 in daylight it was leaving a vapour trail.

[chiglet]

Avman.
I was at PATCRU, and I have some old photos of people from PATCC/PATCRU sent to me by the [retired] boss at Sottish Ocianic. If you are interested, send me a pm

[b377]

Flew in a BOAC Britannia over Atlantic early 60s on a moonless night wonder if I left a contrail and anyone saw it ... :)

[stepwilk]

That DC-3 at Quebec City wouldn't have been leaving a conventional contrail but creating what as I remember is called "ice fog." Hosers would know way better than I do...