Contrails.

[StokesAk]

With all these new features contrails would be cool. You could have an option in graphic detail for low end computers to turn them off.

[Eagleclaw]

agreed, contrails would be a cool addition to an already awesome game

[shifty95]

agreed, contrails would be a cool addition to an already awesome game

the only problem is, some people might confuse it with a feul leak.

[Eagleclaw]

Well maybe have the contrail form about two k from you, in real life this doesnt happen but it could be used in the game situation.

[AWwrgwy]

Contrails wouldn't necessarily go away as you flew versus a fuel leak that acts like a short tail.

25k feet or above to form IIRC.


wrongway

[LLogann]

Negative sir. 

25k feet or above to form IIRC.

Doesn't have much to do with altitude so much as air pressure, condensation (air temp) and humidity.

But.... At higher altitudes, condensation from the decreased pressure will increase the wingtip vortex, but for our game the majority of contrails would come from engine exhaust...


I wouldn't mind this, it would be pretty cool.  But with contrails do we also start to model wake turbulence?  That would be even better cooler!  Lose control, go into a flat spin from the wash!   

They look high to you?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/B-17_Flying_Fortress.jpg

[AWwrgwy]

Negative sir. 
They look high to you?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/B-17_Flying_Fortress.jpg

Lets see.  Hmmmm.  I'd say with no point of reference to the ground and the photo being taken from another aircraft slightly below them, looking up, that they are at 27,300 feet.

Is that high?

Exhaust vapour trails or contrails usually occur above 8000 metres (26,000 feet). where the temperature is below -40°C (-40°F).

http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/GLOBE/faq.html



wrongway

[StokesAk]

Well if they arfe at 26.5k then if someone does a high alt buff misson it would add alot of realism to the game and fighters could track the buffs with the contrails. I would think some buffs pilots would enjoy it. (until they get shot down )

[Strip]

They already have smoke modeled.....how hard would it be to add? Change the color (easy), move location (easy) and change duration (easy). Changing location of the smoke on 80+ planes would take the most time. If you added variability to the contrail creation you might get a little involved. It would not be much harder on frame rates if you modeled the short-lived type contrail. Being that high would lighten the load on the video card drawing the terrain. You could set it to a option box in the graphic options menu.

Measured in code time I bet this would a easy eye-candy one.

[LLogann]

I love you most of the time Sir........  But I personally took that photo at the bottom of a hill while those fortresses flew over the top.......     (Total Fib)  (Being a photographer, I know that if that was another aircraft, the dark area would appear more as a sharp edge.... Even with 1940's film technology... Therefore I safely would bet those 17's are low)

Lets see.  Hmmmm.  I'd say with no point of reference to the ground and the photo being taken from another aircraft slightly below them, looking up, that they are at 27,300 feet.

Is that high?

http://asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/GLOBE/faq.html
wrongway

All kidding aside, the FAQ is slightly distorted.... With what is said in there, what happens on a cold day in Alaska?  Contrails yes, but for the most part, it's simply engine exhaust.  As in the photo I displayed. 

However, no need for bickering.......  The bottom line is:

It would be cool to have "wing vortices" as they would probably be easier to code simply based on plane data.........

[Strip]

Seeing how your pictures were not done right here.



One of them was far to large....

(Being a photographer, I know that if that was another aircraft, the dark area would appear more as a sharp edge.... Even with 1940's film technology... Therefore I safely would bet those 17's are low)

You would lose that bet.....look at the photo you tried to post. Notice the trail dissipates in far less than a second? It takes extremely cold moist air for persistent contrails regardless of source.


 
Now look at the trails above the two B-17s, long with low definition, clearly indicating a persistent type of contrail. Also the fact that they are flying in formation would indicate that its very likely they were at high alt. In all likelihood this picture was taken from the top turret of a lower B-17 well above 20,000 feet.

Also note that the contrails are not from the exhuast but from the propeller tips.

Strip

[ImMoreBetter]

Actually, I'd reckon it was taken from the radio compartment, not the turret.   

[Strip]

Your probably right...

[Yossarian]

the only problem is, some people might confuse it with a feul leak.

Well to be honest that's their problem.


Contrails would add some realism to the game, and before anyone complains about a performance impact, there'd doubtlessly be an option to turn them off, and thus you would suffer no loss in framerate.

+1