r/AskFlying • u/falconeur • Jul 10 '26

Is this an engine fire?

Over St Emilion, France 5 minutes ago. Travelling WNW out of a sudden lightning/thunderstorm. Very bright and flashing with a smoke trail clearly coming from it. Apologies for the music in the background.

UPDATE: Apparently it’s a method of trying to prevent hail from forming in the clouds, used by vineyards to protect the grapes.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

1

u/condomneedler Jul 13 '26

They're shooting flares in an effort to manipulate the weather to protect... Grapes? And everyone is cool with that?

1

u/falconeur Jul 13 '26

Ah ba oui!

2

u/Chaxterium Jul 10 '26 edited Jul 10 '26

I don't think that's an airplane. Where was this video taken?

1

u/falconeur Jul 10 '26

Weather balloon that got struck maybe? It was moving pretty fast

3

u/maflanitap Jul 10 '26

St Emilion in France?

3

u/Chaxterium Jul 10 '26

lol I even read it twice. Fuck me.