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vapour from wing tip

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Ground Crew
eastcoast Posted: Sat, Oct 9 2010 11:09 PM

Hi, Just took a flight from corfu, 737 800, and noticed a twin vapour trail/liquid comming  from end of left wing on taking off.

Few minutes after take off it vanished, never noticed this before on previous flights, any ideas would be welcome as attendant said i was seeing things. help anyone please.

Regards, eastcoast

 

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Ground Crew
crisp replied on Sun, Oct 10 2010 9:39 AM

It must have something to do with humidity and cross wind, that effected the aerodynamics of the wing tip.

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Engineer
HAWK21M replied on Sun, Oct 10 2010 5:40 PM

If from the Wingtip....Wingtip vortex.

If just underwing near the tip....Fuel escaping from vent tank if refuelled excessively & leaks as expands due temperature rise or turn angle.

Think of the Brighter side!!!
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Ground Crew
eastcoast replied on Sun, Oct 10 2010 7:31 PM

Hi, It was under the wing before the winglet, two trails, deff not wing vortex. seemed to start as we accelerated, corfu is a short strip and you are on the gas so to speak from the word go. Fuel venting sounds most likely, many thanks.

eastcoast

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Engineer
HAL9000 replied on Tue, Oct 12 2010 8:45 AM

Hi,

The wingtip vortex are not generated by fuel leaked from the fuel velts. During flight air is entering the fuel vents not the opposite.

The wigtips vortex are normally generated by humidity. The air inside the vortex face a decrease of temperature and falling below the dew point condenses into water.

The more the air temperature is close to the dew point (you see that on the METARS) the more intense effect you will see.

In rainy days you can see such vortex coming out the edges of the flap or the engine pilon (passing above the wing).

 
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