Contrails

[TheGhost]

Re: Contrails

Actually contrails come from engines and votises (sp) come from wing tips.

If you want to see the white votises that come from the wing tips you have to at least have some settings on med. I don't know for sure which ones. I only know for sure that if I am on all med I get them - - - if I am on all low I don't.

A vortex (or vortices in plural) refers to the motion of the air, the visible vapor trail is a contrail. They botch this up a lot during Formula One broadcasts when they zoom in for close up shots of the rear wings. The air is coming off in a vortex pattern, but it is the contrail that allows you to see this. In other words, the vortex is always there, and under certain conditions a contrail will form that will let you visually see the vortex.

[whoosh]

Re: Contrails

Its caused by the pressure differential as the pressure ahead of the leading edge of the wings slips to the end of the wing and collides with the low pressure air. It causes something like a small tornado right at the end of the wing.

Its also why you don't typically see them when an airplane is flying straight and level. Only when the wing is loaded during tight turns

[AtomicRadio]

Re: Contrails

Turn your effects up to med and it will work. But you will have some lag since your computer isnt the best.

[TheGhost]

Re: Contrails

Contrail: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrail

Vortex: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vortex

A contrail can allow you to see air moving in a vortex, but the visible element (the white line) is always referred to as a contrail, whether it is created by the engines or the wingtips.

[whoosh]

Re: Contrails

A vortex (or vortices in plural) refers to the motion of the air, the visible vapor trail is a contrail. They botch this up a lot during Formula One broadcasts when they zoom in for close up shots of the rear wings. The air is coming off in a vortex pattern, but it is the contrail that allows you to see this. In other words, the vortex is always there, and under certain conditions a contrail will form that will let you visually see the vortex.

The contrail is not what "allows" you to see a vortex. They are two completely different things. Contrails come from engines. Caused by pressure and temperature differences as the heated/pressurized air leaves the exhaust of a jet engine. Typically you don't see them in turbo fans or turbo props.

Vortices are another animal all together. They are formed by any obstruction that passes through the air or obstructs air flow.

It is the turbulence behind the obstruction. Though not all turbulence forms a votex. And not all vortexs are a result of pressure differences high enough to create visible condensation.

[TheGhost]

Re: Contrails

The contrail is not what "allows" you to see a vortex. They are two completely different things. Contrails come from engines. Caused by pressure and temperature differences as the heated/pressurized air leaves the exhaust of a jet engine. Typically you don't see them in turbo fans or turbo props.

Vortices are another animal all together. They are formed by any obstruction that passes through the air or obstructs air flow.

It is the turbulence behind the obstruction. Though not all turbulence forms a votex. And not all vortexs are a result of pressure differences high enough to create visible condensation.

Yes and no, the vortex is the turbulence behind the object, which is exactly what I was referring to. Specifically it is turbulent air moving in a circular pattern. A vortex on it's own is not visible, something has to be introduced to the airstream to allow you to see the motion that is occuring... something like a contrail, or smoke (think stuntplane) or debris (think sandstorm, tornado, etc). A vortex on its own does not produce a visible vapor trail. You don't have to take my word for it either, Google is your friend.

[Rez_K'awil]

Re: Contrails

The contrail is not what "allows" you to see a vortex. They are two completely different things. Contrails come from engines. Caused by pressure and temperature differences as the heated/pressurized air leaves the exhaust of a jet engine. Typically you don't see them in turbo fans or turbo props.

I can't believe we are getting this in depth, but I feel I should set the record straight. Contrails are not caused solely by pressure and temp differences when caused by jet engines. Jet fuel consists mostly of hydrocarbons, and when it is burned it turns into carbon dioxide and water. Approx. 1 gallon of fuel will produce 1 gallon of water. At the high altitudes, the cold air causes the steam to condense, thus causing the contrails. However, this process can also be facilitated by the pressure difference caused by the wings.

Vortices are another animal all together. They are formed by any obstruction that passes through the air or obstructs air flow.

It is the turbulence behind the obstruction. Though not all turbulence forms a votex. And not all vortexs are a result of pressure differences high enough to create visible condensation.

It sounds to me like vorteces (not votices) CAUSE contrails, however they are two completely different things. And since they cause the condensation trails, they in effect allow you to see them. The process is different for the two types of trails, but the effect is essentially the same.

p.s. Don't think I knew this off the top of my head. I just like Wikipedia a lot.