Lately have noticed planes shooting straight up, leaving vertical vapor trails kilometers high. Why??

Question

Lately have noticed planes shooting straight up, leaving vertical vapor trails kilometers high. Why??

Answer 1

The Aircraft probably aren't flying straight up. It seems that they are because you are so far away and the angle that you are looking at it. It may seem as thought it is flying vertically, however they are probably just flying straight and level. The curvature of the earth would also have an affect on your perception of the aircraft.

Answer 2

Was there an airshow in your area today?

Answer 3

Vapor trails sometimes appear to have been left by a vertical flight when in fact they are not.  The distance and the geometry of your line of sight against the sky can distort what you see.  They are flying in a normal straight and level way.

Answer 4

Contrails or vapour trails are condensation trails and Artificial clouds made by the exhaust of aircraft engines or wingtip vortices which precipitate a stream of tiny ice crystals in moist, frigid upper air.

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