Contrails

"99% of the population has no idea why."
Jay, I submit this is generally true.
;^)
H.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:VJrAb.441007$HS4.3464811@attbi_s01...
Perhaps the pilots are flying VOR to VOR
and that bend is where the local VOR is?

Iowa City was on the original transcontinental air mail route. When they
switched from light beacons to radio beacons, Iowa City received a VOR.

(In the 1920s and 30s, Iowa City has a 500,000,000 candlepower beacon!
That's half a BILLION candlepower -- it was reported in the newspapers
that
area farmers were able to work at night, by the light of the beacon!)

These routes evolved into the airways airlines (and many IFR pilots) still
use today.

On a clear day you can see dozens of airliners overhead, changing course
at
the VOR just south of town. 99% of the population has no idea why.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

H.,

"99% of the population has no idea why."
Jay, I submit this is generally true.


But they have strong beliefs - Oh NO, wrong thread... gd&r

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

ROTFLMAO
thanks
H.
"Thomas Borchert" wrote in message
...
H.,

"99% of the population has no idea why."
Jay, I submit this is generally true.


But they have strong beliefs - Oh NO, wrong thread... gd&r

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

On 2003-12-06 12:32:51 -0800, Jeffrey Voight said:

I would have thought that most
flights at altitudes that produce contrails would be on GPS plans....

Two things:

1. There are lots of big airplanes flying around that still have nothing more than
the good old VOR & DME.

2. GPS doesn't always mean direct.

--
Larry Fransson
Seattle, WA

What I don't get is why I see them bend at or
about the same location

I suspect it's winds aloft.

all the best -- Dan Ford
email:

see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com

I live "almost" under a convergence of airways. Most any clear fall
evening, you can count the contrails into the double digits. And most all
of them bend in the same place....following an airway one way or the other.
By dark, you can generally make out where the airways are and aren't.

Jeff

"Jeffrey Voight" wrote in message
...
I'm curious about something I frequently see. When I look up and see
contrails from airplanes, I often see more than one headed in the same
direction, but separated by some distance. I figure this is a result of
the trailing aircraft not wanting to fly along in the contrail left by
the lead aircraft and/or the wind pushing the contrail to the side prior
to the trailing aircraft. What I don't get is why I see them bend at or
about the same location. Is this the result of the wind changing
direction at this location? Perhaps the pilots are flying VOR to VOR
and that bend is where the local VOR is? I would have thought that most
flights at altitudes that produce contrails would be on GPS plans, so
I've discounted this theory a bit. If it's the result of the wind
changing, wouldn't the wind shear destroy the contrail at that bend?

I don't get it.

Jeff...