When is the greatest amount of wake turbulence created by an aircraft?

The greatest amount of wake turbulence generated by an aircraft occurs when it is heavy, clean, and slow. This is because wake turbulence is primarily related to the lift produced by the wings and correlates strongly with the aircraft's weight. A heavy aircraft generates more lift and subsequently more turbulence.

Additionally, the term "clean" refers to the configuration of the aircraft during flight. When an aircraft is in a clean configuration (landing gear and flaps retracted), it is producing a significant amount of lift without disruptions caused by drag. "Slow" refers to the airspeed; as the aircraft moves slower, the vortices produced by the wings do not dissipate as quickly, resulting in more substantial turbulence lingering in the air behind the aircraft.

This combination of factors leads to the maximum intensity of wake turbulence, posing challenges for trailing aircraft, especially during takeoff and landing phases.