Strange photo of a USAF C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft and clouds

different prespective with a smaller image,




and lastly, the original USAF photo which is too big to post so here's the link:
www.af.mil...

All the above from the source page ChamorroBible.org...

While it's all (highly likely) scientifically explainable, it's strangely beautiful and very interesting to see the clouds formed in that manner. Good C-17 photo (and in a recent Fark.com Photoshop Contest too).

If the background isnt added, its the jets trail, you can see the circle pattern.

Thats the wake of the jets tail same as you would see with a boat in water.

That's a pic of why a small plane can't follow within a couple of miles behind a large aircraft. Vortex. Not friendly to small aircraft, and some big ones too!


[edit on 18-10-2004 by Der Kapitan]

C-17 pilot and photographer couldnt have wished for better conditions for that shot. A "Super Blue" moment.

tight picture.... good find

I like it a lot

i like this image

The background is fake. I think its part of a MTG(Magic The GAthering) card. That or the air god having a a little revenge on this great poluter.

Originally posted by SmokeyTheBear
The background is fake. I think its part of a MTG(Magic The GAthering) card. That or the air god having a a little revenge on this great poluter.

How can you be sure Smokey? It definately looks like the classic 'angels of death' craeted by the vortex behind a plane.

Low pressure on top of the wing, relatively high pressure below, the high pressure air underneath 'spills' over the wingtip from the bottom to the top creating the swirling air or vortex. This causes alot of drag which is why they put winglets on (ala C-17) to reduce this phenomenon. The pic has been around for awhile. I wouldn't know if it's a fake or not but there's not much reason to make a fake like it because a real pic would look very similar. Probably taken from a tanker.

you can see the edges of the craft are bogus...jeez you people will post anything!

Jet Wash, don't get caught in it

Check out the original photo. The edges arent bad there. Not that it matters...

thats a nice pic. and it looks cool.

okay, I think its safe to lock this thread.

You now know how the clouds formed like that.
No need for any more one-liner responses...

Great pic, btw.