Expert: Marc Ebelini - 6/2/2005

Question
hi marc, i work on this site as well, answering questions about brewing. anyway ive always wondered why certain people are suspicious of condensation trails. if you did a google search for contrails you would find 100+ sites claiming that airplane engines are not supposed to make these trails and therefore they are something sinister.
so...what are they, and why would people think they are sinister?

Answer
I have to be honest with you I never heard of the vapor trails being sinister. They are natural occurrences that take place when the atmosphere has the proper conditions.
The temperatures at that altitude are very low but may still contain some moisture. Just like an air compressor, the moisture is collected in the aircraft's compressor then suddenly superheated and impacting the cold outside air again causing it to condense and become visible. Many people are firm believers in UFO's so why not a contrail cult.