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Why do some airplanes leave contrails, while others do not?

Answer:

The vast majority of the contrail is water. When you burn a hydrocarbon fuel (gasoline, wood, candle wax, etc.), it produces carbon dioxide and water vapor.

At high altitudes, you get very cold temperatures. On our flight today, the outside air temperature registered -52° C! At those temperatures, water vapor tends to condense into water droplets or ice crystals, producing a cloud.

If the air is very moist, the contrail can trigger more condensation, and the contrail will grow larger, sometimes expanding to cover large areas.

On the other hand, if the air around the plane is very dry, it absorbs the moisture, and the contrail disappears quickly, or may not form at all.

Also, if the plane is flying below the point where temperature/pressure/humidity will cause condensation, it will not leave a trail.

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