Photo: U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet as it breaks the sound barrier

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 8/1/05

[dead]

Water vapor builds up around an U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet as it breaks the sound
barrier during a fly-by near the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) in this
military handout photo taken July 27, 2005. Kitty Hawk and embarked Carrier Air
Wing 5 are currently conducting operations in the Philippine Sea. The Hornet is
attached to Strike Fighter Squadron 102 of Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan. Kitty
Hawk is home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. REUTERS/HO/US Navy/Petty Officer
3rd Class Jonathan Chandler

[johniegrad]

I kinda get that look when I eat too many complex carbohydrates.

[BenLurkin]

The next generation.

[dead]

And one from the Russians:

MIG patterns : A Russian military air force demonstration team paints patterns on the sky
by their MIG 29 jet-fighters, during the WWII-time air show in the town of Monino,
some 40 kms from Moscow. (AFP/Maxim Marmur)

[BenLurkin]

Interesting!

[1stFreedom]

Breaking the sound barrier?

Prandtl-Glauert condensation is not indicitve of breaking the sound barrier. Is this just condensation????

[newsgatherer]

USAF under gore, kerry, kennedy or olympia snowe.

[Blueflag]

This will answer your question

http://fluidmech.net/tutorials/sonic/prandtl-glauert-clouds.htm

[Blueflag]

here as well http://www.galleryoffluidmechanics.com/conden/b2bg.htm

http://www.galleryoffluidmechanics.com/conden/b2bgb.htm

[1stFreedom]

>>Finally, it should be clear that Prandtl-Glauert condensation has nothing to do with "breaking the sound barrier" and is not a Star Trek-like "burst" through Mach one. An aircraft can generate a Prandtl-Glauert condensation cloud without ever exceeding the speed of sound.

[GarySpFc]

It's interesting that you posted the Russian planes. All too often we think they are backwards. My buddy is a former F-14 Top Gun pilot and rocket engineer now working on Tomahawk missles. His son is just now graduating to the fleet flying F-18's. He states the F-22 Raptor will be the first fighter which will be on a par with the Migs and Sukhois. The F-18 is a good plane, but not in the class with the Russian planes.

[Lady Jag]

B1-B breaking the sound barrier

[peacebaby]

breaking the sound barrier - Is Hillary speaking again?

Seriously, this female thinks this is pretty awesome stuff. Great photograph.

[pissant]

The Air Force's Thunderbirds graced the Tacoma skyline this past weekend. Awesome!

[trillabodilla]

Awesome!!!

[Paradox]

According to various articles I have read from experts, that type of formation/condensation is NOT indicative of a breaking of the sound barrier. It sure looks like it however, and if you get to see that in person, it is really amazing, it looks like the plane is busting in through another dimension or something..

[RetiredArmy]

Warp speed please Mr. Sulu.

[C-Note]

One problem, I don't believe B1-Bs are supersonic.

C

[Gefreiter]

G,
Yeah that's a good point. Russia has a deep bench of talented engineers and mathematicians.

They can design a superior product, but I think they lack a sufficiently advanced maunfacturing capacity to sustain production of something akin to the F22.

Similarly, I don't believe they have a huge stable of top-notch pilots, or the means to create alot of them.

[Gefreiter]

Hahha you're thinking of that movie about the modern carrier that goes back in time to prevent Pearl Harbor...