USN Photo of the Day: Hello! Jaw-dropping F/A-18F Super Hornet fly-bys! Is this just a dream?

Navy NewsStand - Eye on the Fleet, United States Navy (USN) | November 5, 2006; September 11, 2006 | Jarod Hodge, Unjted States Navy; Joshua Wayne LeGrand, United States Navy

[EnjoyingLife]

Photo 1. An F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), 5 November 2006, Pacific Ocean. Image ID: 061105-N-8591H-389

Photographer
Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jarod Hodge, United States Navy

Links
http://www.Navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/061105-N-8591H-389.jpg (big image)
http://www.Navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=40674 (original source)
http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061112.htm (above image from this site's fine F/A-18 photo gallery)





Photo 2. An F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron One Zero Two (VFA-102), Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5), USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), 11 September 2006, East China Sea. Image ID: 060911-N-8604L-741

Photographer
Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Joshua Wayne LeGrand, United States Navy

Links
http://www.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/060911-N-8604L-741.jpg (big image)
http://www.navy.mil/view_single.asp?id=39129 (original source)
http://ChamorroBible.org/gpw/gpw-20061112.htm (above image is one of several excellent F/A-18 photos at this URL)

[kstewskis]

oooooooooooooooooooh ping!

[metmom]

ping

[metmom]

I think it's called a *vapor cone*

[metmom]

I googled *vapor cone* and there's tons of links. Here's one:

http://wilk4.com/misc/soundbreak.htm

[null and void]

Cloaking device...

[Dad yer funny]

THANKS metmom

[bubbacluck]

"cone of silence"

[pie_eater]

If I'm the target of that fighter, I say, "commence soiling of underpants!"

[Shimmer128]

This is one sexy plane. (my favorite is the B-1 Lancer, it's a thing of beauty)

Don't ask how a plane can be sexy, it just is.

[Phlyer]

The explanation in response No. 6 is pretty good. The airplane is not actually going supersonic - at least, not overall. However, local flow around parts of the airplane can be supersonic or near supersonic when overall aircraft velocity is as low as 70% of the speed of sound in more or less one-g flight, and even lower when accelerating the air a lot in high-lift conditions.

[EBH]

bookmark

[johnny7]

I hear they're gonna' melt'em down... and make luxury buses for the residents of NOLA.

[Doogle]

here ya go....a f-14 breaking the barrier between two navy ships.....(note the the water under the plane on approach)
I get a kick out of the commentary and the crew's laughing


http://www.galleryoffluidmechanics.com/shocks/sfb.htm


Doogle

[Blueflag]

There is a name, it is not directly realted to breaking the sound barrier. B-2s can generate the same condensation, and they are decidedly subsonic.

[Blueflag]

http://www.edwards.af.mil/archive/2003/images/b2_over_pacific.jpg

[OregonRancher]

The zone is called "Transonic"...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I actually saw this condensation cloud form briefly on a Blue Angels F/A 18 during the San Francisco Fleet Week air show last month. One of the jets was coming in over the Golden Gate bridge and the cloud formed -- and was gone in a half second or less. I had no idea the jets were that close to transonic speeds. It was incredible to see.

[Sacajaweau]

Ghost Buster!!

[STARWISE]

#12 ... the VIDEO: AWESOME!

[Doogle]

...and for the Hornet groupies here's a youtube Willow Grove vid thats about 9 mins long

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8WG5ZkQsIs

Enjoy