Tested in custom match, throttle at 80, still trail of black smoke, some people said only showing when using WEP, I have tested this and can confirm you always seem to have black smoke trail.
Suggestion is to remove this from view if not using WEP throttle over 95pct, it would make planes harder to spot yes, but why not as they lower speed may add an element of stealth for advanced flyers…
good to know 
ty for these tests
The black smoke is always on no matter what, it helps for spotting because it would be impossible in this game without it. If you see grey smoke it means damage.
Also throttle won’t change anything because these aren’t jet engines in the 50s using alchohol in them. So essentially the smoke is unrealistic and only for spotting purposes.
oh yeah.
i did stated that i tested it few monts ago, the black smoke is there at anygiven speed to make enemy planes/yours more visible to be counter.
it was “requested” by some players on early days because it was dificult for most to spot an enemy plane. also on first dev stream in 2021 they talked about this issue and added it few updates latter.
imo it should stay as is for the sake of gameplay.
imo, they should stay even tho i can “pin point” where the enemy plane is purely by engine sound, but on the gameplay prespective, the traill should stay at any speed to make the plane more easy to be counter.
imo ofc.
It certainly doesn’t appear for every aircraft in all maps - as recently as yesterday I was fighting a/c in Tunisia that were not showing any trail at all.
I’ve always thought it was only when using max power - would support that being the case if it isn’t.
if you are too close (certain distance), they will disapear.
keep that in mind.
regarding all aircraft in all maps, true, twice i didnt noticed them on a fighter plane in berlin soviets. even at full (noise) throtle.
I look for them from far off to indicate where the enemy is or even is there an enemy a/c at all.
Once I can see the a/c they don’t matter unless I lose sight of it.