7:35 AM
Anonymous
This daredevil fighter pilot thinks nothing of thundering along at speeds of at least 500mph just a hair’s-breadth away from the water’s edge. The incredible picture - taken at a San Francisco air show by photographer Joerg Amann - captures the moment that a U.S. Navy aircraft causes a dramatic jet wash, with heat distorting the appearance of the air surrounding the distinctive F/A-18 Hornet plane.
Flying so close to the water at such a high speed causes a vortex as the water is literally sucked up from the surface - as can be seen in the picture at the tail-end of the plane.
The distorting visual effect surrounding the rest the aircraft is the result of the immense heat being generated - the combination of a hot day and the incredible speed the plane is reaching.
This amazing stunt was performed by a member of the Blue Angels - part of the U.S. Navy demonstration squadron who have been showcasing their death-defying flying skills for almost 70 years.
These days the team flies the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules at airshows all over the U.S. as a way of promoting the capability and skills of naval aviators.
When the squadron receives a F/A-18 Hornet from the fleet, which are at the end of their carrier functionality, they make a variety of modifications to make it suitable for their performance requirements.
Flying so close to the water at such a high speed causes a vortex as the water is literally sucked up from the surface - as can be seen in the picture at the tail-end of the plane.
The distorting visual effect surrounding the rest the aircraft is the result of the immense heat being generated - the combination of a hot day and the incredible speed the plane is reaching.
This amazing stunt was performed by a member of the Blue Angels - part of the U.S. Navy demonstration squadron who have been showcasing their death-defying flying skills for almost 70 years.
These days the team flies the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet and the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules at airshows all over the U.S. as a way of promoting the capability and skills of naval aviators.
When the squadron receives a F/A-18 Hornet from the fleet, which are at the end of their carrier functionality, they make a variety of modifications to make it suitable for their performance requirements.
