Is this for real ?

[whitesatinmopar]

I figure most of us somewhere along the way has heard a jet break the sound barrier, it makes some thunder sound like a lil cap gun 

However I was sent some pics of this happening, when the sound barrier is broken there is a phenomenon that takes place (supposedly) that can actually be seen by the very few around of course. It is as if the jet is litterally crashing through a wall, a wall of sound if you will. Now I suppose these pics if legitimate are stills taken from a video of this taking place. I know there are some very knowledgeable and experienced pilots and airmen on this site. Have you heard / seen this? Is it possible? or is this just trick photography? Come on experts, this is most interesting and if true very AMAZING . Here are 6 different pics I received via e-mail from my one son who was in the Navy, but he never commented about this phenomenon.

[Tropicalcats]

You might want to check this out.

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



Be sure to check the US Navy Eye on the Fleet Photo Gallery for tons of great photos.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've seen those before... cool! 

[360 'CUDA]

I don't think that's from just breaking the sound barrier. I believe that is more of a moisture condensation thing.

You see that alot when you live around an Air force or Navy air base.

I have even seen that on the flyby at the begining of a NASCAR race

[Tropicalcats]

I don't think that's from just breaking the sound barrier. I believe that is more of a moisture condensation thing.

You see that alot when you live around an Air force or Navy air base.

I have even seen that on the flyby at the begining of a NASCAR race

You might want to check this out.

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



Be sure to check the US Navy Eye on the Fleet Photo Gallery for tons of great photos.

[Carlwalski]

Some look suspect...... Though, at those speeds, anythings possible I guess.

[Wang]

Look into it on Snopes.. 

[Rare_T_A]

Those are great, I've always been fasinated with flying but my interest is WWII props. fighters and bomers.

[FM3V6M]

Just got back from an air show here at Point Magu in So-Cal last month...saw the same thing with my own eyes...I think it is condensation, not the sound barrier...

[72hemi]

Its for real. Its called the prandtl glauert singularity. A friend of mine just wrote a paper on them in one of the engineering courses. If you google it you can find anything about them that you want.

[HemiDog]

I think this will answer the questions. 
http://www.fluidmech.net/tutorials/sonic/prandtl-glauert-clouds.htm

[Bearcuda]

One of the guys I'm deployed with works for Boeing and is an aerospace engineer. I asked him about this and basically he described it as the pressure difference between the supersonic speed of the air over the fuselage and the still transonic speed of the plane. The pressure difference vaporizes the water in the air around the plane at that instant.