how do aircraft make smoke?

[Theis]

i have always wondered when looking at planes at airshows

Cheers Theis

[Craig.]

I believe its a dye or something simmilar that is released into the exhaust fumes behind the aircraft.

[Craig.]

heres how its done by the reds
http://www.raf.mod.uk/reds/dyeteam.html

[C]

I believe its a diesel and dye mixture injected into the exhaust gas of the aircraft. Basically the diesel makes the smoke, the dye then gives the colour.

[ozzy72]

I find being perforated by flak is effective

[Boss_BlueAngels]

For the US demo teams they simply use vegtible oil and spray that into the exhaust.  Actually, almost all of the planes in the US use veggy oil now, even the props.  

[OldW]

Or it could be the smoke that comes out of the pilots eyes when he realises that in fact he is sharing his cockpit with a wasp.  ;)

[Hyperion2]

Not to be contradictory, Boss, but where did you hear it was vegetable oil?

Vegetable oil is quite flammable, and may not be the best choice for smoke.

Fog (as in the stuff you'd see in concerts, etc) is made by blowing a mist of MINERAL oil over a heating element...I'd always just assumed this was the same thing in airshow grade fog....vegetable oil just seems a bit too volatile to me....but I've been wrong before.  lol

[Craig.]

Diesel isnt exactly water. But its used for the red arrows.

[Craig.]

When Bartlett says, "Smoke -- on!" each pilot pulls a lever, releasing biodegradable, paraffin-based smoke from the exhaust nozzles of the jets.

from a Blue Angels info site.

[Hyperion2]

Paraffin actually makes much more sense as it would be less volatile and it would also have a longer life....great tip, Craig!  Thanks!

[Boss_BlueAngels]

I just always heard airshow announcers saying it was veggy oil and making comments that the only environmental problems it caused was excess fat.  ;D

[Hagar]

Someone told me that baby oil gives the best results with piston engines.

The Exxon Elite Twister is an Extra300S.

Mark uses an environmentally friendly smoke oil, "baby oil" through the sequence to emphasise the flightpath of the Exxon Elite Twister through the display. I am often asked how does the smoke not get in way of the pilots view - I can assure you that it does, particularly when flying backwards, the cockpit will fill with smoke and take seconds to clear!

http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:T0CYuZITKukJ:www.yakuk.com/EA300-com.doc+air+show+smoke+baby+oil&hl=en