Ectoplasm in Sub-Zero Air

[Milt]

Cannot recall whether Ectoplasm forms in sub-zero air.

If so it will consist of ice crystals.

Do the ice crystals persist as a con trail?

[cavortingcheetah]

If that's what you want to find perhaps you could find it here?

http://ectoplasm.co.uk/

Happy Hunting!

[PhoenixRising]

Better ask the Ghostbusters.

[Rainboe]

I was thinking ectoplasm is that stuff that is supposed to come out of peoples' ears or noses or something in alleged ghostly encounters? I think it was cigarette smoke really.

[cavortingcheetah]

That'll be Passing Clouds then, Rainboe, in the pretty prismatic pink packets?

[Rainboe]

Originally Posted by cavortingcheetah

That'll be Passing Clouds then...

'Passing Clouds'? I don't recall anybody ever bragging about ectoplasm coming out of that 'orrible orifice CC!

[XL5]

Rare, but not unknown.

I saw a film about this once, it gave excellent insight as to the nature of the phenomena and protocols for dealing with it. It would seem that carrying a cargo of ancient Egyptian artifacts can, under certain less than understood conditions, induce a heavy precipitation of ectoplasm which subsequently attains abnormally high viscosity due to the subzero environment. It should be noted that this viscosity is far greater than that previously observed in Edwardian table rapping, bugle blowing, levitating séance type ectoplasm.

In the film, this subzero ectoplasm released in copious quantity shoved the drag co-efficient through the roof to such an extreme that the fuel flow counters were rapidly spinning with no forward aircraft motion - a stout example of getting nowhere fast while burning precious fuel. Procedure (after a CRM discussion sequence) was to lob the offending cargo overboard, whereupon everything immediately returned to normal.

Jolly good to know these things. This particular nugget squirreled away in any captain's box of tricks to be recalled with a flourish like a startled rabbit from a magician's hat could well save the day should a cloud of subzero ectoplasm be encountered whilst transporting a cargo having dubious spiritual integrity. It makes one shake one's head at the failings of the modern ATPL syllabus which has astonishingly little to say on this potentially vital subject and its associated safety aspect.

PS.....I believe Chuck Connors played the role of the captain - a fine performance in a truly informative film.

[Milt]

XL5 well done!

Just don't know a better name than Ectoplasm for the mini cloud that forms within significantly decreased pressure zones of an aircraft when penetrating high humidity air. Often visibility is seriously reduced for a fighter jock when the cockpit is in its little cloud.

Once investigated the break up of an F-86 Sabre which emerged from low cloud diving at high speed at night immersed in ectoplasm. Apparently the pilot reacted violently to the glow of city lights through his personal cloud overstressing the aircraft to break up.

Tis still incredible that water droplets can form and then be returned to vapour so rapidly to create the phenomenon many of us have observed both from the inside and the outside.

[cavortingcheetah]

Teensie bit off topic but cloudy nonetheless.

Rainboe, are you appropriatly enough referring to 'Wills' Whiffs' ? manufactured, as I seem to remember, by the same company that made the cigarette 'Passing Clouds'. ?

[BOAC]

Despite the ribaldry and outbreak of 'the vapours' some of the posters are exhibiting here, Milt, I am aware of the 'useage' of the word to describe the phenomonen of which you talk.

My answer to your question is no, as the vapourisation would produce super-cooled droplets which would instantly return to an invisible state.

NB I am answering this in the 'spirit' in which it is intended.