Woss going on? (Weather)

[Ham]

Any ideas? I'm pretty sure it wasn't an aircraft.

[mrcharly-YHT]

Looks like it was done by an aircraft to me. Why do you think it wasn't?

[Chris S]

It's an aircraft.

Here's one I took on Oscar's night a few years ago. Those 'Mericans in their F-15s, eh?

[andygates]

Holding pattern contrails.  Pretty, aren't they?  Saw some doozies over Edinburgh last year. 

[Ham]

Because

(1) I didn't see or hear it but mostly
(2) it is RIGHT in the flightpath of London City Airport
(3) it's not in the type sky where you get vapour trails (?)

[PaulF]

wake of a departing flying saucer?

[Chris S]

Holding pattern contrails.  Pretty, aren't they?  Saw some doozies over Edinburgh last year.

Are you sure?  Holds are generally "racetrack" in shape - two long straights and two turns that join them. Holds are not (usually) circular because a continuous turn for an aircraft gets uncomfortable after a while, for those on board.

There are no holds over Norfolk that I know of - the (low/mid-level airspace) is dominated by The Military - and upper transit routes for civil traffic pretty limited; UL630 over North Norfolk being a noticeable one on clear nights for it's long line of blinken lights.

Those circular trails are much more likely to be from those able to do 360s at mid levels - which is essentially the military or private jets.

[Chris S]

(3) it's not in the type sky where you get vapour trails (?)

In fairness, vapour trails can happen anywhere that conditions are right. Here's our very own Mal Volio making one, with an F15 for comparison:

[Andrij]

(3) it's not in the type sky where you get vapour trails (?)

In fairness, vapour trails can happen anywhere that conditions are right. Here's our very own Mal Volio making one, with an F15 for comparison:

I'm no plane spotter, but that's definitely not a F-15.  Is that a Tornado?  Looks too slender for a F-111.

[Chris S]

Er yes - possibly a Tornado. It's a while since I made that image - and I'm getting old and forget stuff .