posted 08-13-2001 11:25 PM            

quote:

---

...this photo IS a time-lapse photo of sorts. In each area, there are similar-looking trails. Take for instance, the racetrack patterns in the south central portion of the photo. These are from a SINGLE plane. The plane uses landmarks or coordinates for it's holding fix. Unfortunately, the medium in which it is travelling (the air) is not stationary, so the pilot has to constantly correct for this. As the pilot follows the ground track for the refueling pattern, the winds aloft blow the contrails downwind. In the picture, what you are seeing is a number of patterns, the farthest downwind being the oldest.

---

posted 08-13-2001 11:52 PM            

if you cut and paste the url below into your address bar it will enlarge the photo considerably, but still I don't see how the radar on top of the AWAC'S is producing the circular trail...

posted 08-14-2001 09:31 AM            

quote:

---

The donut trails are something specific to this mystery craft since they are not found on commercial aircraft such the Boeing 747, which use continuous propulsion.

---

posted 08-14-2001 05:47 PM            

The (some) AWACS are staioned at tinker air force base in Oklahoma city (del/midwest) I've never seen anything like that circular trail and see AWACS here quite frequently...I was in OKC last wed. and took some snaps, they are flying all the time...other than that photo, I've never seen anything resembling the circular patterns...

as far as the doughnuts on a rope...see a lot of those too, you will find quite a few pic's at my site of the rope thing...but I personally don't think they are from any secret plane, and would bet dollars to doughnuts that the rope thing is due to aircraft outfitted with "hush-kits"....

but I've been wrong before...

posted 08-14-2001 09:53 PM            

Also, during flight operations, a carrier will always have a tanker airborne in an orbit above the carriers in case a pilot has "lost his edge" (Top Gun quote) and has problems landing. He (or she) could climb up and get gas, and then try to "hit the three wire" a few more times.

Another idea that came to mind is that there is some type of civilian search-and-rescue operation going on at the spot where the contrails are forming. If there was a need to stay on station for a long time (like waiting for a ship to arrive to pick up survivors) then the rescue aircraft could climb up to a high altitude to conserve fuel. The rescue aircraft (or the aircraft in command of the whole operation) would probably set up an orbit above the wreckage/survivors/etc. like is shown. It would remain on station until the job is done, it runs out of fuel, or another aircraft arrives on scene to relieve it.

posted 08-14-2001 11:09 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by 3T3L1:
Time to take this threat off-topic! Maverick, have you ever landed on a carrier? Sounds like a heart-in-throat procedure to me.

---

No, I sure haven't. They won't let us AF guys near a boat. Sorry, but my only tie to the Navy is my nom-de-plume that I use on these websites. The Agency insisted that I use it. (that's a joke, Lab Rat)

Besides, carrier-borne aircraft like the F/A-18 have beefed-up landing gear that enables them to survive the controlled crash that is more commonly known as the carrier landing. By comparison, the F-16's landing gear resemble toothpicks when paired against it's sea-going brethren. My plane would probably break in half if it slammed into a carrier deck!

I fly with several ex-Navy and Marine pilots (they prefer the term Aviator) who have had carrier tours flying the F-18. They have some harrowing stories about "the trap" (landing) that make me glad that the piece of concrete that I regularly land on is not pitching up and down and being doused with sea water. I'd like to experience it just to say that I've done it, but that's about it. That's the same thing that the ex-Navy guys in my squadron say about it.