Hello Richard and Listoids, The subject contrail/combustion byproduct/condensation trail was not made by a turbojet powered aircraft. There is only one trail and it displays a massive constant volume atypical of conventional multi-engine aircraft which display a separate condensation trail from each engine. High altitude can make an airliner's condensation trails look like a single artifact, but when seen closer you easily can count the engines by the individual trails.
The volume and density of this trail belie any water condensed trail I have seen from an aircraft. The trail of a rocket powered X15 isn't anywhere near as massive as this dude.. In my learned opinion, this missle was powered by a single (non-staging) big ass, solid fuel rocket engine. It looks like your standard submarine launched ICBM going down range to our Pacific Test Area. Did you see the helicopter hovering in an observing position? Best, Count Deiro IMCA 3536 P.S. In another life I was the Director of Aviation Facilities for the Hughes Tool Co. and an ATP rated aviator. -----Original Message----- >From: Richard Kowalski <damoc...@yahoo.com> >Sent: Nov 9, 2010 6:54 PM >To: meteorite list <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>, " Robert D.Matson" ><robert.d.mat...@saic.com> >Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Not a missile -- a jet contrail > >OK > >I'd like to see the third one i more detail, but its probably a contrail. > > >-- >Richard Kowalski >Full Moon Photography >IMCA #1081 > > >--- On Tue, 11/9/10, Matson, Robert D. <robert.d.mat...@saic.com> wrote: > >> From: Matson, Robert D. <robert.d.mat...@saic.com> >> Subject: RE: [meteorite-list] Not a missile -- a jet contrail >> To: "Richard Kowalski" <damoc...@yahoo.com>, "meteorite list" >> <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> >> Date: Tuesday, November 9, 2010, 7:16 PM >> Hi Richard, >> >> Compare the four images here: >> >> http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/missile_launch_california_contrail_ >> aircraft_203591-1.html >> >> The top one is from last night. The bottom three are all >> confirmed >> aircraft >> contrails. --Rob >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com >> [mailto:meteorite-list-boun...@meteoritecentral.com] >> On Behalf Of >> Richard Kowalski >> Sent: Tuesday, November 09, 2010 6:02 PM >> To: meteorite list >> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Not a missile -- a jet >> contrail >> >> I'm not so sure I agree with you Rob. >> >> The original footage is here: >> >> http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2010/11/09/pentagon-cant-explain-missil >> e-off-california-coast/ >> >> >> The trail looks like many other rocket launches I've seen >> in twilight. >> Note the appearance is a vertical climb and then arcing >> over, down >> range. >> >> Note too that there are no other contrails in the sky. >> >> I certainly hope it is a contrail, but it looks very much >> like a >> submarine launched ballistic missile. >> >> >> -- >> Richard Kowalski >> Full Moon Photography >> IMCA #1081 >> > > > >______________________________________________ >Visit the Archives at >http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html >Meteorite-list mailing list >Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com >http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
