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vapor trails

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vapor trails

A long trail of visible moisture left by an aircraft as it flies at high altitude through very cold air. The trails are formed by the condensation of water vapor in the exhaust gases leaving the engine. They appear at a slight distance behind aircraft exhaust. Their longevity can vary from a fraction of a second to a few minutes. The minimum flight level at which these trails occur is called the mintra/MINTRA level, which a meteorologist obtains from a tephigram. Also called contrails or exhaust trails.
An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved
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References in periodicals archive
Vapor trails could also be a problem even before aircraft took to the air.
Avoiding layers of the sky where vapor trails formed was especially critical to the success of reconnaissance missions and to the very survival of reconnaissance pilots whose planes were usually unarmed.
Ahead and above us the armada on dress parade let fly vapor trails like royal plumes.
The planes were leaving long vapor trails. It was a very interesting thing to see, and it gave one the feeling this was really a great show."
The source of these vapor trails was said to be condensation of water vapor in aircraft engine exhausts.
If, on the other hand, the air was supersaturated, the condensation produced by propellers and air foils would persist, and a vapor trail would form.
In no cases had they encountered an aircraft with a vapor trail below the altitude of 17,000 feet.
Wakes of war: contrails and the rise of air power, 1918-1945 Part II--the air war over Europe, 1939-1945
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