MovieChat Forums > Patton (1970) Discussion > Jet contrails

Jet contrails

posted 8 years ago by marmac2768
9 replies | jump to latest

I am watching this GREAT movie for the umpteenth time and just saw something strange.

When Brad comes to the crossroads where George is directing traffic, he has to tell him that he has to cut off his supplies, including gasoline. They continue the conversation and, if you look into the sky past them, you will see a long jet contrail. Jets were not flying at that time, they were still in the development stage and not able to fly that high to make a contrail like that.

It's amazing what you may have missed and now can see.

[–] MadTom 8 years ago

Contrails are created by propeller-driven aircraft as easily as by jets, as a function of altitude and air temperature. There are plenty of photos of propeller driven aircraft taken in WWII, especially heavy bomber formations, creating contrails.

[–] jim105 8 years ago

Haven't watched that scene for a while, but during WW2, propeller driven aircraft were able to make contrails. Didn't happen all the time, but there are many photos of high altitude bombers IE the B-17 and B-29 (I know, Pacific Theater only), as well as fighters like the P51 Mustang and the P47 Thunderbolt that were leaving contrails.

I'm sure you are right in that it was a modern jet and a goof in the filming, but you can make a point that contrails were witnessed during WW2.

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

...ummm... displaying my ignorance here, but toward the end of the War, hadn't Germany developed a very early line of jet fighters...?

[–] nickm2 8 years ago

I guess the other posters are saying that even prop jobs can leave contrails if they fly at the right altitudes & under the right atmospheric conditions.

Why can't you wretched prey creatures understand that the Universe doesn't owe you anything!?

[–] bastasch8647 8 years ago

Yeah, there would have been more prop jobs than jets anyway at that time...

[–] liscarkat (18373) 4 years ago

Propeller-driven aircraft leave contrails, too, and there are plenty of photographs and films of it happening during WWII.

[–] bop101 (148) 4 years ago

I don't believe in was part of the scene. I'd guess a high flying plane no one saw at the time and was left in due to the shot. Couldn't reshoot it.

[–] liscarkat (18373) 4 years ago

It probably was not an intentional part of the scene; however, since WWII planes often left contrails, it was perfectly plausible for the early or mid 1940s and as long as the actual jet plane that caused it was not visible or recognizable there was no need to reshoot.

[–] Who (5146) 4 years ago

There are some in Pride & Prejudice too.