Out of the blue, the jet-powered cloud - News - Evening Standard
       

Out of the blue, the jet-powered cloud

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You could call it the ultimate cloaking device. This stunning picture shows a a U.S. air force stealth fighter performing a series of manoeuvres while wrapped in a blanket of condensation.

The vapour cloud --similar in composition to the trails left every day by passenger planes cruising at high altitude - is a tribute to the agility of the £60million F22-A raptor craft and the pilot's skill.

The cloud formed when changes in air pressure, caused by the sharp twists and turns the jet made in the Californian sky, led water vapour in the atmosphere to condense.

The display took place during the Ventura County Air Show. Spectators gasped as the cloud formed around the jet, but the nose stayed clear of the condensation, giving the pilot a clear view of the skies.

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