Birth of an F-18
This plane has just accelerated past the speed of sound.
The cloud around the plane is caused by water vapor being forced
out of the air by the sonic "boom."
Not only were the water vapor, density and temperature just right, but
there just happened to be a camera in the vicinity to capture the moment.
This is extra ordinary photography, a once in a lifetime photo. Every
so often, just the right combination of conditions and events occur to
create an unbelievable event - in this case an F-18 passing through the
sound barrier.
The F-18 is actually in transonic flight, with normal shock waves
emanating from behind the canopy and across the wings and fuselage.
The condition will last for only an instant, and once supersonic flow exists
completely around the aircraft, sharp-angled sonic cones replace the
normal shock waves.
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