Why does the white smoke really condensation appear to be coming out of the side of the stack and not directly out of the top?

Humid air from the cabin returns through the decompression panels to the air conditioning system where it is mixed with dryer air from the packs. After some cycles the cabin air is rather dry and condensation doesn’t occur anymore.

What is white vapor?

The white vapor is visible moisture present in the air after it is removed from the cabin and then recirculated back into the cabin after being cooled and (in theory) filtered.

What is the fog in airplanes?

What you’re seeing is mist — hot and humid outside air rapidly condensing upon contact with the aircraft’s onboard air conditioning unit that creates billows of water vapor.

What is the smoke in airplane cabin?

It’s (probably) not on fire. Planes taking off from hot and humid climates often experience this unique “indoor weather.” That’s because the steamy air outside is being rapidly cooled and condensed by the plane’s onboard air conditioning unit. This creates waves of water vapor that can appear eerily like smoke.

Why is there smoke in airplanes?

The reason airplanes leave a white smoke trail in their wake is because their exhaust gases contain moisture that condenses at high altitudes. As the airplane’s engines release exhaust gases, moisture vapor is released as well. Rather, they are simply the result of moisture vapor in an airplane’s exhaust gases.

What causes vapour trails?

contrail, also called condensation trail or vapour trail, streamer of cloud sometimes observed behind an airplane flying in clear cold humid air. A contrail forms when water vapour produced by the combustion of fuel in airplane engines condenses upon soot particles or sulfur aerosols in the plane’s exhaust.

What is convection in aviation?

The convective process involves heating of the air at the surface thus lifting the air from the Earth’s surface. As the warm air rises, the water vapor condenses into water or ice. The convective process generates the following: Clouds.

What is the white smoke from jets?

Jets leave white trails, or contrails, in their wakes for the same reason you can sometimes see your breath. The hot, humid exhaust from jet engines mixes with the atmosphere, which at high altitude is of much lower vapor pressure and temperature than the exhaust gas.

What does it mean when your engine is smoking white?

In the cold weather, the white smoke can be quite normal, but in some situations, it is not. Continuous white smoke while driving is one of them. If you are having a diesel, white smoke may be unburned fuel or coolant going through the engine. But mostly, it is the incorrect injector timing in the cylinders.

What causes smoke coming from the wingtips of a fighter aircraft?

You may also see ‘smoke’ coming from the wingtips or other parts of fighter aircraft under high G loads. This is actually water vapor condensation from the extremely low air pressure that is briefly generated by a hard turning fighter, and it disappears quickly.

Why is smoke seen when an aircraft’s landing wheels touch down?

Question: Captain Cox, why is smoke seen when an aircraft’s landing wheels touch down onto the runway? Answer: The smoke is the result of a wheel which is not turning in flight making contact with a stationary runway. The wheel must accelerate to the landing speed very quickly.

What causes the White Stuff in a car’s exhaust?

Water vapor in the exhaust stream condenses and, pushing the local air above its saturation water content, forms a white, frozen mist. Also, particles from partially burnt fuel form condensation cores wich stabilise the contrail and let it grow over time from humidity already present in the air.