Aeroplane sky trails

[mosy]

Just noticed that the sky was perfect a few minutes ago to see the myriad criss-crossing of jet trails left behind and even see aeroplanes leaving new trails.

Just thought I'd mention it.

[mosy]

Now the trails are dissipating, they look like clouds.

Anyone know exactly what is being left behind in what was otherwise a clear blue sky?

[Rachael]

Now the trails are dissipating, they look like clouds.

Anyone know exactly what is being left behind in what was otherwise a clear blue sky?

Ice crystals. AKA clouds. Google contrails. Do NOT google chemtrails, which is a conspiracy theory.

[sparticus]

Interesting sight over Mayow Park this afternoon. 3 or 4 Chinooks followed by at least 6 single- rotor helicopters. Not in typical British livery- US Maine Corps? Maybe because of a certain visitor next week?

[syenhamboy]

Now the trails are dissipating, they look like clouds.

Anyone know exactly what is being left behind in what was otherwise a clear blue sky?

Condensation

[syenhamboy]

seems an odd thing to start a post about.
I saw a leaf on the floor the other day
Or any other random thoughts

[mosy]

seems an odd thing to start a post about.
I saw a leaf on the floor the other day
Or any other random thoughts

Trails caught my attention once before recently on a clear day for the same reason, not because aeroplanes leave trails but that they made a perfect 6-point star (or three directions to form star) which is what intrigued me with their being over Sydenham, so same as they did yesterday but you've got to be blinking quick to take a perfect snapshot.

I looked up contrails, and seemingly water vapour, CO2 and soot. Looks like goodbye blue skies forever doesn't it?

[stuart]

Not an aircraft trail but a bit of a shock when I looked up a few minutes ago to see a rainbow in our glorious sunny sky! No rain, of course, so it must be ice-crystals reflecting the suin that very high wispy cloud. Never seen it before.

[JGD]

Beautiful pic Stuart.

Are bandwidth issues still stopping the rest of us posting pix too ?

[mosy]

Yes, great pic and an upside down rainbow too isn't it? Strange.

My mystery of "why three directions" I mentioned, might have a simple answer as I saw one craft West to East bank sharply North almost at a right angle, so probably joined another path.

Interesting sight over Mayow Park this afternoon. 3 or 4 Chinooks followed by at least 6 single- rotor helicopters. Not in typical British livery- US Maine Corps? Maybe because of a certain visitor next week?

I heard them but didn't see them. Andrew Marr said this morning that heavy helicopters were whizzing about over London prior to Trump's visit, so sounds plausible.

[alywin]

Were these the ones which went over about 7 pm? I wondered that they were making such a racket. And I did see a big black(?) and noisy copter over here the other day, too.

[JGD]

Looks like part of the US Presidential fleet overflew us about 7:45am.

Think they were also spotted middle of last week.

Not sure why there this far south in this sector as they are supposed to be operating out of Stansted.

Biggin Hill perhaps ?

[mosy]

I can hear them this morning. Only saw one, big double rotor jobby, going N>S, or maybe NE>SW.

[JGD]

Three more US helo's in formation - northbound over us in Bell Green at approx 11:40am.

[syd-gal]

Stuart - your "rainbow" is called a sun dog. As you say, caused by ice crystals.

[syd-gal]

Trunps helis have been over Lower Sydenham last couple of days. Today 7 came over at 7.45 am on their way to Stansted, then after he landed, 5 of them came back in smaller groups. Then this afternoon a couple went back towards the city, then returned about 4.30 pm . I got a photo of one just now, 5.15 and can clearly see United States of America along the side.