At what condition is wake turbulence the most severe?

Wake turbulence is a phenomenon produced by an aircraft as it moves through the air, characterized by the formation of vortices trailing from the wingtips. The severity of these vortices is influenced by several factors, including the weight of the aircraft. When an aircraft is heavy, the vortex strength increases due to a greater amount of lift generated to support the aircraft's weight. With a heavier aircraft, the induced drag is also higher, which leads to more pronounced wake turbulence.

As a result, during takeoff and landing phases, heavier aircraft will create stronger and more persistent vortices, which present a greater hazard to following aircraft, especially light jets and smaller planes. This is why pilots must maintain proper separation distances behind heavier aircraft to avoid the risk of encountering wake turbulence, which can lead to loss of control.

Other factors like speed, configuration, and thrust also play a role in wake turbulence, but the weight of the aircraft is the most critical factor in determining the overall severity of the wake turbulence.