Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Odd trails in the sky

Nothing odd about it at all
Larry J — (archived)

Those are simply contrails (water condensation from engine exhaust) from several aircraft that happen to cross. Water vapor is a combustion byproduct regardless of whether you're talking about jet or piston engines. At the right temperature, the vapor leaves a contrail.*

Without knowing the location, I can guess that the point where they cross is an intersection between 2 or more airways or over a navigation transmitter (VOR). Those transmitters are often located near cities because they help guide planes to local airports.

If you can give me the location where the picture was taken, I'll look it up online and see if I can find a map showing the airways and/or navigation station.

* During WWII, photographic reconnaissance pilots went out on most of their missions over enemy territory without escort. Their motto was "Unarmed, Unafraid, and Alone". One trick they used to avoid being attacked from above by enemy fighters was to climb to just below the altitude where contrails formed. Any fighter trying to dive on the photo-recce bird would leave a contrail and give away his position. These were almost always piston engined planes pulling the contrails. There's nothing odd about it.

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