Originally posted by Elyeh
just something else to eat up frame rates....
But aircraft would have to be at a high enough alt before contrails would form. I believe it has to do with the air temp.
Thats true of the engine exhaust... But the vapor off of fighter wing tips is a function compression and humidity. These can happen in almost any airmass or altitude if the compression (such as during a 7G turn) is sufficient.
The picture below isn't a perfect example because its not a WWII bird, and the vapor trails aren't long... And because the F16 generates a huge amount of its lift right on the wing root (thus thats where the trails appear first)...
Anyhow, this aircraft was going about 250mph at 3000msl (1000 AGL at the location) I took this picture on a relatively warm dry day in June at Van Nuys airport in Los Angeles. Contrails are clearly visable even at that relatively sedate speed and low altitude with some loading in the turn.
