[TXnMA]

Well. haven't used my head for analyzing GOES and other sat data, Nor have I spent any time with the AWE808 profile.

However, this graphic indicates that the AWE808 flight path was considerably south of UPS902 until they approached Catalina. And, IIRC, AWE808 was at a lower altitude -- which would affect contrail formation, volume, and lifetime -- all negatively.

"Kinks": in contrails (as shown in your example) due to minor differentials in upper wind velocity are common -- and they frequently distort the pattern slightly without dispersing it. For a more dramatic example look at where the plume/contrail traverses the opening in the "forked" cloud.

IOW, your "steering" graphic is worthless.

[TigersEye]

Nope, see post #365. The altitudes were the same and the flight paths were nearly identical.