Sonic booms? actually, “no”

You may think that your looking at “sonic booms” but you’d be wrong.

In fact, it’s almost impossible to “see” a sonic boom with the naked eye.

As an aircraft gets near the speed of sound, around 767mph, a vapor cone forms around the plane.

This cone forms from a discontinuity of air pressure and temperature when the air loses it’s capacity to hold water. First a vapor like condensation will form and eventually it shapes into a cone shape.

Above photo of F-22 Raptor during a turn. Notice the bottom verse the top. High pressure “below” and condensation “above” the wings.

Creating this vapor cone without causing an actual sonic boom shockwave is tough. The pilot has to travel just below the speed of sound.

This makes performers like the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds even more amazing. If they travel to fast and generate a sonic boom…it’s a problem for the ears of those watching below.