RIAT 2017

[Uncle John]

Why is the condensation only appearing around the Raptor?

Great Top Gun style photo above!!!!

[MARKYYY]

Eric Mc said:

It's quite common for airshow "acts" to take off and then enter a holding pattern (as the Americans say) before being called in to do their display.

Yeah of course but the B2 didn't take off from Fairford it only did a fly past so you could tell there was something different/special a few miles in the distance just couldn't work out what it was

[Steve93]

I'll try that again with Flickr
CRW_3160 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3161 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3330 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3266 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3254 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3247 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3233 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3228 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3204 by Steve, on Flickr
CRW_3180 by Steve, on Flickr

Still got around 500 from each day and the static shots to sort out

[Eric Mc]

MARKYYY said:

Eric Mc said:

It's quite common for airshow "acts" to take off and then enter a holding pattern (as the Americans say) before being called in to do their display.

Yeah of course but the B2 didn't take off from Fairford it only did a fly past so you could tell there was something different/special a few miles in the distance just couldn't work out what it was

I've seen that as well. Years ago I attended an air show in Ireland where NONE of the USAF aircraft taking part took off from the venue. In fact, three took off from Bitburg (F-15s), one took of from Spangdahlem (an F-16) and one took off from Mildenhall (a C-141 Starlifter). They all had to circle around a few miles from the airshow venue before being called in to do their displays.

The venue was Fairyhouse horse race course, Co. Meath.

[vournikas]

ukaskew said:

150 shades of grey...

RIAT 2017 by Chris Harrison, on Flickr

"Maverick", it seems, still does those crazy stunts

[Salgar]

A couple from Sunday

B2 Bomber with F15 Escort by Paul Robinson, on Flickr

F22 Raptor at RIAT 2017 by Paul Robinson, on Flickr

[speedtwelve]

Uncle John said:

Why is the condensation only appearing around the Raptor?

Great Top Gun style photo above!!!!

Localised supersonic airflow around certain curvy parts of the airframe causing pressure and temperature drop resulting in saturated air condensing out water vapour. The jet is subsonic overall, with bits of it causing supersonic shockwaves spiking with the condensation. It's a function of the speed of the pass and humidity, as well as a few other things. Some airframe designs are more conducive to localised supersonic airflow than others. The F22 was probably going max-chat on a moist part of the day compared to other pics.