[Blueflag]

FWIW, this kind of vapor, condensation actually, is not an indicator of breaking the sound barrier, but does appear at high Mach numbers. For instance, you can find a pic of a B-2 with this cloud, and a B-2 has never been even trans-sonic to my knowledge, let alone super sonic.

This condensation cloud has a fancy moniker - named for the scientist(s) who uncovered its secrets, but their names escape me.

Bottom line, it is a WAY cool photo, and this guy probably continued to accelerate through the sound barrier for the air show.

Thanks for finding the pic.


I'll go google the name of the condensation cloud.

[nj_pilot]

FWIW, this kind of vapor, condensation actually

yep; if it's just right out, I'll see vapor coming off the prop tips of my bug smasher, and that's turning a seventy-some inch prop at 2700 rpm - definitely subsonic, though not by much.

[Vineyard]

In the '60's, the FAA decreed that no sonic booms at air shows ... no breaking the sound barrier.

So this guy DIDN'T continue on to break the sound barrier, because if he did ... he would be in BIG trouble.

Mike