When a wing is generating lift it causes a vortex to form at each wingtip, and sometimes also at the tip of each wing flap. These wingtip vortices persist in the atmosphere long after the aircraft has passed. The reduction in pressure and temperature across each vortex can cause water to condense and make the cores of the wingtip vortices visible. This effect is more common on humid days. Wingtip vortices can sometimes be seen behind the wing flaps of airliners during takeoff and landing…. (source)
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Wingtip Vortices During Take-off at Anchorage International
Close-up
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Higher
Close-up Left
Close-up Right
Allison Goodwin
Great Pix Jeff, thanks!!
Sibrina Romain
I would love to get a copy of this so I can frame it for my husband. Is that possible?
Jeff Fenske
Sibrina,
I appreciate the request, and have had several others interested as well.
I’ve taken a sabbatical from printing and selling prints, but may resume next year. I can’t say for sure.
Thanks for asking.
Jeff