Contrail spotting

Planespotting in the upper atmosphere! All pictures, reports or whatever question about upper level traffic come here

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Hi

thx OO-JFP for additional info.
Bruspotter wrote: Nice work!!! Skystef , which lens did you used for taking this shot? Or which ways to enlarge (optical zoom in combination with lens or something...?)
thx as well Y,

lens is still the Sigma 50-500mm, all contrail shots taken @ 500mm. When cropping to get the plane "in front", the 6,1 million pixels does help. Cruising planes which are a bit lower give very good results, especially the "zenith shots". But the max for contrails self are the distant shots with rising or setting Sun. So there is hope for U2 Avro.

I wonder what a (manual) converter 2x will give, perhaps I will go for that as well in future. Anyone with experience?

Brgrds S

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Bruspotter
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Post by Bruspotter »

Hi

Ok , thanks very much Skystef , now I know something. Wow! You can even take those shots with a 500mm? Really cool!!! One day I really must have that to ! :D:P:P

Idd , very nice when the sun rises or sets. Some days I have to catch the bus of 0627 leaving oevel to herentals. And if it's good weather it's just awsome beautiful seeing that red line on the horizon with the red/blue clouds in front of it!!!! NICE!!!

Keep going on guys , really like this :P

Best regards: Yannick ;)

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Seems the summer came when it supposed to be autumn.
So, again a day (Sept 23) in the garden with telescope & camera.


This one was my first to catch with typical sound: an Hercules of Morocco cruising N at 1423LT
Image

And this Cathay Pacific B747-400 was one of the last to catch cruising W at 1836LT.
Image

In between around 1500 I even saw 2 AWACs cruising side by side SE @ reasonable distance.
Last edited by Skystef on 24 Sep 2005, 13:55, edited 1 time in total.

Glider
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Post by Glider »

Nice pics, Skystef!

Saw the Cathay too; was standing at 25L at that specific moment. Tried to nail it too, but with a 300mm, it's a bit too far...

Please continue taking such pics; I'm also enjoying it

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lumumba
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Post by lumumba »

Hi skystef.
Yes Yes Yes Yes More More and More.
Regards
Pat
Hasta la victoria siempre.

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liebensd
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Post by liebensd »

Skystef wrote:And this Cathay Pacific B747-400 was one of the last to catch cruising W at 1836LT.
And this B747-400 was one of the last to catch cruising W at 18:34LT.

Image

Greetz,

Dave

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Post by EHAM »

Skystef wrote: This one was my first to catch with typical sound: an Hercules of Morocco cruising N at 1423LT
Hi Skystef,

This one could be the CNA-OL, which arrived EIN at 14.38LT yesterday.

Grtz,

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Thx folks, and also thx for info EHAM, it was indeed heading the way of EHEH.

Unbelievable Dave that you pictured the CX744 too, but 2 minutes earlier.


Today, Sept 24, the weather conditions were less impressive due to radiation.
At 1555LT a monstrous aircraft was cruising S, unmistakable ANA's JA8962,
which I nailed in my backyard at a reasonable horizontal distance.

Image

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Sabena_690
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Post by Sabena_690 »

Very nice topic to browse through, keep it up!

@Stef: you pictured Pokemon on the NH205 NRT-CDG.

Regards
Frederic
Brussels Airlines - Flying Your Way

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Bruspotter
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Post by Bruspotter »

Hello

Can't say it enough...reeaaaaally nice...really enjoying this topic.

Must be almost even much fun photographing contrails as real close shots if you have a good cam!!:P You see much more nicer birds dan BRU :roll: :D

Keep the good work up guys!! ;)

Best regards: Yannick ;)

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

There are two kinds of contrails: the classic "engine exhaust contrail" and the "aerodynamic contrail". The latter is "a cloud" due to reduction of pressure. They are often seen at the ends of wings as quick dissipating wake vortices. But sometimes when the air is almost saturated they may form huge (lasting) contrails just above & behind the aircraft.

This pic shows what I mean, a climbing DAL B767-300 cruising W with combination of a huge aerodynamical contrail and a weaker exhaust contrail.

Image

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Zorba
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Post by Zorba »

Indeed very nice. I saw it a couple of times. Sometimes you even may see a rainbow between the "aerodynamical contrails". Very nice 8)
Tot hier en verder

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Brief visit in the backyard on October 1, but worthfull:


Air France B744 cruising N at 1458LT with huge aerodynamical & exhaust contrail .
Image

Global Supply B744 cruising W at 1508LT with small contrail at distance (not on pic).
Image

TNT A300 at 1513LT low cruising W without contrail which presumable t/o from EBLG.
Image


As contrail is "a cloud" it was on my web, by the jury of me myself and I, promoted to the weatherpicture of the month.
For a closer inspection, just press on the picture of October.

Brgrds S

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Zorba
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Post by Zorba »

LOL Skystef! I think we saw the same planes :D



Image

Image

Image

The last one is a JAL 777.

I also saw the AF 747, but when he was at the right place for a picture, the contrail was gone :cry:

See you :wink:
Tot hier en verder

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blackhawk
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Post by blackhawk »

And I saw the TNT too, heading to the WNW ;)

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Airbus_fan wrote:LOL Skystef! I think we saw the same planes :D
Remarkable piece of coincidence in the "dot spotting" club.


You probable saw this one to on same day, cruising N at 1451LT after losing its contrail.

Image

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Hi folks,

on October 3 (on P-day) there was an Hercules cruising NW around 1337LT.
It was presumable from the Canadian Air Force, but would like some confirmation.
Any helping hand (with ACCAR report?) would be appreciated.

Image

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Today, October 10, turned out to be a relative good dot spotting day. There was some radiation around the midnoon period. There were even some airplanes which could be read off:

A330-200 OE-LAM of Austrian cruising W around 1248LT.
Image

OK-DGL the special B737-500 of CSA passing W around 1411LT.
Image

F50 PH-LXJ, one of the several KLM's Fokkers a day cruising SE, this one around 1440LT.
Image

And around 1838LT a Classic B747 in the basic colors of Atlas Air cruising W.
I guess this could be N508MC or N509MC.
Image

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Skystef
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Post by Skystef »

Today, Oct. 11 the conditions were nearly perfect as there was no radiation, only a bit haze.
But the the sunset/rise moments are still the best.

Around 1850LT this nicely sunlit EAT A300 was cruising W.

Image

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YYZ727
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Post by YYZ727 »

Great stuff ! Keep it coming !

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