The photograph (right) was taken near Maldon, Essex, in the UK, looking directly overhead. It appears to show the result of an aircraft flying through thin cloud and dispersing it along its flight path. If an aircraft was responsible it had long since passed when the picture was taken. Is this a common sight and what mix of conditions is required to produce the effect?

The photograph (above) was taken near Maldon, Essex, in the UK, looking directly overhead. It appears to show the result of an aircraft flying through thin cloud and dispersing it along its flight path. If an aircraft was responsible it had long since passed when the picture was taken. Is this a common sight and what mix of conditions is required to produce the effect?

Neil Sinclair, Chelmsford, Essex, UK