11/8/2003: Prop plane in wet air effect

Undertoad · 11-08-2003, 10:33 AM

xoxoxoBruce found this one at the Weather Underground image gallery, of a C-130 taking off at Anchorage Airport and causing a really wild "corkscrew" effect.

plthijinx · 11-08-2003, 12:28 PM

that is an awesome pic! not very often (ok, never) do you get to see the "spiraling slipstream" off of props!

xoxoxoBruce · 11-08-2003, 02:25 PM

Looks like water trailing off the end of the flaps too, for some reason.

quzah · 11-09-2003, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Looks like water trailing off the end of the flaps too, for some reason.

Fuel. Someone forgot to put the gas cap on.

Quzah.

Elspode · 11-09-2003, 06:54 PM

I'm guessing that the air was supersaturated, and that the water flashed instantly into vapor inside the low pressure area in the wake of the prop tips (and also the lower pressure behind the trailing edge of the flap corner).

tjennings · 11-10-2003, 09:50 AM

I love that effect. You see it quite often in pictures of prop planes on aircraft carriers. I've also seen a little vortice like that develop behind the rear wing of a Formula One car on a very humid day.

Fighter jets will often produce them during hard maneuvers, but I've seen a 747 make them on takeoff at JFK as well.

CharlieG · 11-10-2003, 12:41 PM

I used to go watch the jets land at LGA - I saw vortex condensation lots of times

r9703410 · 11-10-2003, 01:20 PM

Talk about a BIG plane!

CharlieG · 11-10-2003, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by r9703410
Talk about a BIG plane!

Actually not that big! A 747 dwarfs it, never mind a C-17 or C-5

C-130 is a short haul medium lift plane. Of course it can take off and land in places that a 747, C-17 or C-5 wouldn't even think of trying - It holds the record as the largest plane to take off and land on a carrier deck (sea trials on the USS Forestall) - I also think it now holds the record for airplane longest in production (I _THINK_ it beat the AN-2 a few years back)

breakingnews · 11-10-2003, 02:18 PM

Really cool pic.

I love it when I'm on a plane that's ascending or descending through clouds - watching the airflow off the tip of the wings is fun.

11-08-2003, 10:33 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	11/8/2003: Prop plane in wet air effect xoxoxoBruce found this one at the Weather Underground image gallery, of a C-130 taking off at Anchorage Airport and causing a really wild "corkscrew" effect.

11-08-2003, 12:28 PM	#2
plthijinx Master Dwellar Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 4,197	that is an awesome pic! not very often (ok, never) do you get to see the "spiraling slipstream" off of props! __________________ For your dreams to come true, you must first have a dream.

11-08-2003, 02:25 PM	#3
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Looks like water trailing off the end of the flaps too, for some reason. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-09-2003, 06:54 PM	#5
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	I'm guessing that the air was supersaturated, and that the water flashed instantly into vapor inside the low pressure area in the wake of the prop tips (and also the lower pressure behind the trailing edge of the flap corner). __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

11-10-2003, 09:50 AM	#6
tjennings Belt Conveyor Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Sioux City, IA Posts: 66	I love that effect. You see it quite often in pictures of prop planes on aircraft carriers. I've also seen a little vortice like that develop behind the rear wing of a Formula One car on a very humid day. Fighter jets will often produce them during hard maneuvers, but I've seen a 747 make them on takeoff at JFK as well. __________________ No, no, you're not thinking, you're just being logical. Niels Bohr, physicist (1885-1962)

11-10-2003, 12:41 PM	#7
CharlieG Hoodoo Guru Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 301	I used to go watch the jets land at LGA - I saw vortex condensation lots of times

11-10-2003, 01:20 PM	#8
r9703410 Coronation Incarnate Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: houston, texas Posts: 91	Talk about a BIG plane! __________________ You know you love me!

11-10-2003, 02:18 PM	#10
breakingnews Q_Q Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: somewhere in between Posts: 995	Really cool pic. I love it when I'm on a plane that's ascending or descending through clouds - watching the airflow off the tip of the wings is fun.

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