Miramar Air Show #2......F-22 Raptor breaking the sound barrier!

[Calindy]

....and a F-22 Raptor that broke the sound barrier while I was taking the picture (Yes, I know the vapor and sound barrier are NOT related)...WOW, was that ever cool!! I know I can probably make these shots better, although I think the vapor made the photos!
http://DebMann.zenfolio.com/img/s9/v14/p482539401-3.jpg

http://DebMann.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v17/p435337323-3.jpg

http://DebMann.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v17/p255148701-3.jpg

http://DebMann.zenfolio.com/img/s8/v10/p363281444-3.jpg

[FlyingPhotog]

No Sound Barriers were harmed here but you certainly captured some amazing vapor effects.

[L.J.G.]

Unbelievable! What a catch, amazing.

[kit lens]

Yeah thats just humidity, nothing to do with the sound barrier. Cool shots though. ;)

[Calindy]

Yeah thats just humidity, nothing to do with the sound barrier. Cool shots though. ;)

I know (I guess my post makes it look like I thought that, I will try to take it out of the title if I can), it just broke WHILE I was taking the picture and we watched the vapor go down the length of the plane and when it went boom-boom, it all disappeared. Of course, no vapor in the picture did not look as cool as having the whole jet wrapped in vapor, so I did not post the after shot. Everybody around us were amazed to watch (and hear) that happen. It sounded just like when the Space Shuttle comes in for a landing.......

Maybe it just sounded like a sonic boom, but everybody around us thought that is what it was???

[monk3y]

I know (I guess my post makes it look like I thought that, I will try to take it out of the title if I can), it just broke WHILE I was taking the picture and we watched the vapor go down the length of the plane and when it went boom-boom, it all disappeared. Of course, no vapor in the picture did not look as cool as having the whole jet wrapped in vapor, so I did not post the after shot. Everybody around us were amazed to watch (and hear) that happen. It sounded just like when the Space Shuttle comes in for a landing.......

Maybe it just sounded like a sonic boom, but everybody around us thought that is what it was???

I thought its illegal to break the sound barrier on air shows?

[Calindy]

[quote=monk3y;11023368]I thought its illegal to break the sound barrier on air shows?[/quote

It probably is, that may be the reason everyone started looking at each other with amazement! However, I very likely could be wrong (guess I should not have even mentioned it cause it takes away from my pictures), it sounded like the Space Shuttle landing to me. Regardless, the vapors were the best I have ever seen at an air show (and I realize that has NOTHING to do with the possibilty that the sound barrier was broken).

Now, back to the regular scheduled photo's :):):)

[monk3y]

[quote=monk3y;11023368]I thought its illegal to break the sound barrier on air shows?[/quote

It probably is, that may be the reason everyone started looking at each other with amazement! However, I very likely could be wrong (guess I should not have even mentioned it cause it takes away from my pictures), it sounded like the Space Shuttle landing to me. Regardless, the vapors were the best I have ever seen at an air show (and I realize that has NOTHING to do with the possibilty that the sound barrier was broken).

Now, back to the regular scheduled photo's :):):)

haha yeah... regardless.. the Photos are nice :D

[xn2b8r]

#3 is amazing. The Raptor rocks. Great shot!

[Andrushka]

can't believe I was out of town for this show :-( boo!!

I know you were showing vapor shots, but #4 kinda breaks the F-22 theme a little... nice timing on your shots!

[PhotosGuy]

Very nice shots. You might dial back the sharpness on #3.

[JWright]

I thought its illegal to break the sound barrier on air shows?

It is and the pilot is probably going to hear about it if he really did exceed Mach 1. Miramar already gets a lot of flak from the residents surrounding the base because of the noise of the F-18's and helicopter based there. That, coupled with the crash of an F-18 in a residential area a couple of years ago, makes the residents hypersensitive to what happens at the base.

[The Hard Way]

I was there yesterday and I heard it too. My friend and I looked at each other and were sort of surprised. It definitely sounded like a sonic boom, but it was nowhere near as loud. Maybe some sort of similar pressure wave from the high humidity. Either way, cool photos.

[NeverFollow]

great pics calindy, I really like number 3

[Calindy]

Thanks for the compliments. I am trying to do better on my jet shots, with the info I am learning here. I very much appreciate the input on my photo's, that is how I am learning. I never thought about prop blur until I read about it here! I am glad to someone else heard the sounds that day, I was beginning to think me and everyone around me was hearing things!

[Tee Why]

Wow, that third shot looks cool.

[Derek Nickell]

I love the shots, but I do have to say that the sound barrier has something to do with the vapor in photos 3 and 4. As the plane approaches the sound barrier, it compresses the air across the plane condensing water vapor. 1 and 2 are because of the negative pressure on the top of the wing. Sorry, but I do love your shots and just wish I remembered that the Miramar Air Show was this weekend.

[FlyingPhotog]

Fifth-generation jets are essentially "lifting bodies" with the entire airframe contributing in some way to overall lift.

Rather than getting vapor off just the wings, it will manifest itself over more of the upper surface because low pressure occurs over more of the upper surface.

Couple that with the F-22s unique flight characteristics where turns are slipped and skidded in such a radical way and you'll squeeze a lot more moisture out of the air.

We never see vapor off airshow performers in AZ, but we have seen it off the F-22!

[Aviation Junkie]

Cool shots! Especially #3

[aviator.4.life]

Awesome shots. Haven't seen a Raptor demo in a few years, really have to make the trip somewhere to see it again.