What was this stream of aerosol I saw?
 

I flew on an Airbus A380 last week, sitting over the wing, and from during take-off from LHR until late in the ascent, inboard of at least one of the engines, about where the writing is, there was a thick but tight stream of vapour coming from just in front of and below the leading edge to near the trailing edge where it dissipated. It was as if there was a hose playing upwards hidden just out of sight. It wasn't all along the wing, just this one stream. It was as if there were a fuel leak from the inner engine spraying upwards. But the stream disappeared at some point when we went through clouds. I asked one of the cabin what it was and they did not know.

I also saw it during the landing at LHR on the return trip; I did not see it when landing at DFW.

FWIW I was looking out over the wing to see how it flexed. Most impressive.

hello Quartz-1 not sure I've seen you in the Cabin before.

My first guess is that it is condensation formed by the air stream being funnelled through the leading edge. Once that closes - the stream stops. But there will be a proper person along soon to say what is what.

It's more than likely not a fuel leak.
Did it stream over the wing, from the leading edge to the trailing edge?
It does depend on the ambient humidity. It often streams from a vortex generator or other lift device on the leading edge. It's designed to re-energise the boundary layer and/or control spanwise flow.

Someone much smarter will be along soon. :)

What aerosol? A vortex of WD40?:D

Jack

I haven’t posted in a long while. Maybe 2020?

Here ya go...

Thank You TURIN and redsnail.
That is most interesting. I have noticed the small strakes on the engines but did not what they were called. Thanks also to Quartz-1 for asking a good question. Now we wait for someone to tell us which airport it was - without going to the video on YT first!

That looks spot on! Had I been sat farther forward I'd have seen the origin. Thank you.

I'm going to guess Singapore based on a recent trip to Australia.

SamYeager You are correct claim a free drink at the bar.