How it Works4 mins ago
aeroplanes
on a clear day and u look up to the sky what exactly is it that the plane extracts from its jet engines to make a path of white smoke.
is there a word for it.
is there a word for it.
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No best answer has yet been selected by northboy. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Any aircraft which has 'smoke' (of any colour) coming from its engines is probably in big trouble! ;-)
'Contrails' are simply artificial clouds, created by nothing more than water. See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail
Chris
'Contrails' are simply artificial clouds, created by nothing more than water. See here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail
Chris
As usual, Chris is exactly right... however with a pedantic caveat. Older jet aircraft that are still in use such a McDonnell Douglas DC-9's and the earlier Boeing 737's (Model 100, 200 and 300's) used the Pratt and Whitney JT8D in its various configurations and it was (and still is) quite "smoky". Viewed against a cloudy sky the exhaust can easily be seen. Any contrails from these aircraft are, nevertheless, only water vapor.
Newer P&W engines, as well as GE, GE/SNECMA and Rolls Royce engines are much cleaner and more fuel efficient...
Newer P&W engines, as well as GE, GE/SNECMA and Rolls Royce engines are much cleaner and more fuel efficient...
Thanks for the acknowledgement, Northboy. I suspect that you were typing while Clanad was posting. I have to accept that he's the real expert when it comes to aircraft - he's a commercial pilot ;-)
Clanad: It's good to see you posting on your specialist subject again. You've recently posted so many helpful replies in 'Food & Drink' that I though you were thinking of giving up flying and opening a restaurant ;-)
Chris
Clanad: It's good to see you posting on your specialist subject again. You've recently posted so many helpful replies in 'Food & Drink' that I though you were thinking of giving up flying and opening a restaurant ;-)
Chris