This shot of an F-18 doing a high speed pass by the Uss Nimitz
Posted by Rook8811@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 91 comments
All credit goes to K2Larosa
Motor-Telephone7029@reddit
That's a powerful fart that plane is doing.
OrdinaryAward4498@reddit
I think that distinctive cloud is a Prandtl-Glauert singularity. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prandtl–Glauert_singularity)
Forms when aircraft is approaching speed of sound.
Pilot_P-Rick@reddit
The first sentence of your link says you’re wrong…
OrdinaryAward4498@reddit
Wow, thank you. That changed since last read it years ago. Looks like this is the real explanation:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vapor_cone
F1McLarenFan007@reddit
That’s a great pic for wall I may steal it lol
Complete-Painter-518@reddit
How is this picture taken
Alternative-Yak-925@reddit
Helicopter. The full video is on insta.
onomonoa@reddit
Apparently it's for an Apple TV exclusive called "Flight Ready"
NOISY_SUN@reddit
It's not just Apple TV exclusive, it is an Apple TV+ video that is exclusive to the Apple Vision Pro, so you can only watch it if you have one of those things on your head
abscissa081@reddit
As much as I hate that, it sounds pretty fucking cool
UnaidedGinger@reddit
I watched it today it is very cool
CardinalC177@reddit
I’ve seen everything that’s been released in the Apple Immersive format so far, and Flight Ready is my favourite by far. This one in particular is worth downloading locally and watching with AirPods. The sounds are incredible.
MoistFW190@reddit
Why did you get downvoted for saying that?
UnaidedGinger@reddit
I’m not sure
Time_Employer1345@reddit
Shows just fine that I can add it and not need the goofy Vision Pro… where’d you see its exclusive to the Vision Pro?
NOISY_SUN@reddit
Did you try watching it after adding it?
Time_Employer1345@reddit
Ah…. I see your point there
Sad
NOISY_SUN@reddit
Now you know how I feel!!!
Time_Employer1345@reddit
Very… maybe later it becomes a thing for us folk without Vision
🤞
spootypuff@reddit
Seems a little risky to fly directly under the helicopter’s rotorwash at such a low altitude.
MastodonChance3737@reddit
Going near supersonic, they were probably in that rotor wash for about .01 second
GregTheIntelectual@reddit
I'd be more worried about the helicopter, getting caught in supersonic wake turbulence of a jet flying like 10 feet below.
remy908@reddit
Going near supersonic, the helicopter was in the wake for about 0.01 second.
GregTheIntelectual@reddit
That's not how wakes work. There's a reason I have to wait a few minutes if I'm taking off after a big jet.
quietflyr@reddit
You also don't know how wakes work.
The lower the angle of attack, the less the wake turbulence from wingtip vortecies. You have to wait to take off behind a big jet because they're heavy and at low speed (I. E. High angle of attack) at take-off.
This F-18 would have fairly weak wake, all things considered.
Also, this was probably taken with a telephoto lens, making it look way closer than it actually was.
carp_boy@reddit
It's also proportional to the wing loading.
Rupperrt@reddit
There can be plenty of wakes even at cruise speed or during descent. But agree on the telephoto effect making it look closer than it is.
quietflyr@reddit
Yes, there is wake at any speed. But due to the conditions I listed on another comment, it's not a significant issue.
The ultimate proof that the wake wasn't a danger is the fact that this video exists, meaning the helicopter didn't crash. There's also no incident report discussing a loss of control or damage to the aircraft. So... It wasn't an issue.
Rupperrt@reddit
Weirdly as ATC I get more wake complaints even 10 miles behind non wide bodies at times during cruise or medium altitudes than while having 3-4 miles during approach or departure. But depends on wind conditions.
GregTheIntelectual@reddit
You're right what would I know. Im just a pilot.
quietflyr@reddit
Yeah, and I'm just a pilot, flight instructor, and aerospace engineer with 20 years experience.
GregTheIntelectual@reddit
Amd you think wakes last only as long as the aircraft is physically next to you? Because that's all I refuted.
Yes of course wakes mostly propagate downwards.
quietflyr@reddit
There are four reasons why wake turbulence isn't a significant concern in this video:
The F-18 is not a particularly heavy aircraft, and wouldn't even be operating anywhere near its max gross weight. Wake turbulence gets stronger the heavier the aircraft.
The F-18 is flying at high speed. Wake turbulence gets weaker with higher speed because the intensity is related to angle of attack.
The helicopter is flying above the F-18. As you pointed out, wake turbulence propagates downward and outward out over time. Being above the passing aircraft means that there is very little risk of interfering with its wake turbulence.
The shot was definitely taken with a telephoto lens causing telephoto compression, which makes the F-18 look much closer to the helicopter than it actually is. I would bet money they have at least 500 feet of vertical separation, probably more like 1000 feet.
I'm debunking your claim that wake turbulence would be any kind of significant problem at all for the helicopter in this shot. It's nearly a perfect scenario to avoid wake turbulence.
Reference for further reading: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/chap7_section_4.html
wighty@reddit
I am not butting in/not the person you have had this thread with so far, but watch this: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRAt6ekkakP/
I really do not think they used a significant telephoto lens seeing as how much of the helicopter's cockpit is visible. If I had to guess I'd think probably in the range of 70mm FF equivalent.
quietflyr@reddit
I mean, I'm also reasonably familiar with military flight regs, and I highly doubt anyone would have authorized a pass that close to a civilian helicopter, even for a movie. I still stand by my bet that they had 500 feet or more vertical separation.
wighty@reddit
I'm just an amateur photographer and aviation fan (will get at least my PPL and glider some day, probably after the kids are grown)... but I'm willing to bet you are wrong and that is definitely not 1,000 feet, and more likely not 500 feet. My bet would be 100-200 feet of vertical separation.
quietflyr@reddit
If the photographer replies, and says it was less than 500 feet vertical separation, I will donate $100 to your local food bank.
wighty@reddit
Deal, I'll do the same for yours!
quietflyr@reddit
🤝
packtloss@reddit
Wakes sink at 300-500fpm. They don’t rise.
Expert-Account-5235@reddit
Can you please provide a link? I can't seem to find it
Complete-Painter-518@reddit
link
Murky-Analysis1775@reddit
photoshop
aka_Handbag@reddit
Agree to disagree.
Electro04@reddit
From a Canberra
PeckerNash@reddit
Hey Goose, it’s time to buzz the tower.
RealisticUsual8999@reddit
Photographed at the very moment he broke the sound barrier...
zeusakatkm@reddit
No.
OperaGrrl71@reddit
*laughs in aviator*...the driver of the F/A-18.
emjay2013@reddit
Oh so this is how a us jet and helicopter both crashed last week
satuuurn@reddit
I had the same exact thought. In “unrelated” incidents 😂
ScottRiqui@reddit
I loved watching high-speed flybys on deployment (I was an E-2C "Hawkeye" guy, so nothing we did was "high-speed").
We had a Tomcat go supersonic during a low pass between the carrier and our shotgun cruiser. Big Badda Boom. Another time, the flyby was so low that the people in the hangar bay got a better look at the jet than the people on the flight deck.
But my favorite one was actually caught on tape. The Hornet pilot (Mark "Gucci" Dunleavy), had just finished a tour with the Blue Angels before joining our airwing, so he'd already spent a lot of time inverted. The flyby was planned and approved, but the fact that Gucci was going to do it upside down wasn't. It might not have even been briefed beforehand. The rumor was that just before approaching the ship, Gucci radioed the Tomcat pilot (Louis "Blue Lou" Shager) and told him "Hold steady and don't look back here."
dabarak@reddit
I made a couple of cruises on Vinson (S-3A SENSO). One day there was going to be an airshow for some VIPs. An buddy of mine and I were climbing the short ladder from a catwalk to the flight deck, right behind the island. What we didn't know is that a couple of Tomcats were approaching low and behind us - and supersonic. Of course we didn't hear them until they'd passed us. Scared the crap out of us.
The A-6 creating a "wall of water" by rippling off a bunch of Mk-82s was fun to see.
BraidRuner@reddit
Ho-Lee-Fuk,
''because I was inverted''
jedigreg1984@reddit
Fuck yeah
BraidRuner@reddit
Margin of error? Yes. QNH yest that too.
Disastrous-Power-699@reddit
I remember when I first deployed on the Enterprise and we were sent overseas and started air ops I really wanted to check it out. My job had me inside the CIC pretty much all day so when I had a chance I went to the flight deck to get a glimpse of the planes on something other than a radar screen. A F-18 was coming in to land and I was on one of the island balconies watching. Well that thing came in and I quickly realized why they drilled home the need for ear protection on the flight deck since I wasn’t wearing any. The sound HURT and almost brought me to my knees. A hard lesson was learned that day by a dumbass 19 year old sailor but I’ll never forget the memory lol
ChipmunkNational224@reddit
what is that trail of light grey brown in the wake of the carrier?
1320Fastback@reddit
Taken from what? This AI?
Rook8811@reddit (OP)
This
1320Fastback@reddit
Anyone know what the separation was?
aka_Handbag@reddit
Does this help?
1320Fastback@reddit
That is nuts
cbrookman@reddit
Too close for missiles
1320Fastback@reddit
Ha!
AdultContemporaneous@reddit
I thought this was an AI slop post. That's an amazing picture.
aka_Handbag@reddit
Kevin LaRosa II has an amazing eye. I really hope we get more aviation movies with him on board.
WorldlyOriginal@reddit
Are helicopters disturbed by wake as much as planes are?
I can’t imagine that a Super Hornet passing less than 50 feet below a helicopter, is good for the helicopter
Ruepic@reddit
Wake is below the aircraft.
latedescent@reddit
This is why I dislike Reddit - clearly inaccurate comments get upvoted.
Ever see a subsonic wave?
Wake is absolutely all around this jet.
MyDespatcherDyKabel@reddit
Is that cloud like thing visible from inside the jet? I would love to see a video from inside the jet at that speed
Ruepic@reddit
Wake descends, and it’s more prominent on slow, heavy, clean configuration aircraft. The effects above the aircraft aren’t very significant.
You are thinking of a conic shockwave, which if you seen the video, has very little effect on the helicopter.
GregTheIntelectual@reddit
Unless this is some weird angle trickery this still seems unsafe. Sure wake turbulence mostly goes doen but he loos like 10 feet away.
Ruepic@reddit
It looks close but the wingspan is 40 feet for the f18.
WorldlyOriginal@reddit
Wake isn’t strictly below. Air above is also disturbed— look at videos of smoke and wingtip vortices, where the air noticeably curves upwards in big spirals.
Ruepic@reddit
Conic shockwave.
PsychologicalGlass47@reddit
Can you tell us which bit of that aircraft is producing enough updraft to disturb the helicopter?
pagemap1@reddit
That seems like a very dangerous maneuver to me
Tee8828@reddit
Is this maverick ?
Apexnanoman@reddit
The question is..... Is this one of the planes they were just casually dumping over the side a while back? They pitched a couple of them into the water in a single month, not too long ago.
Crackstacker@reddit
Maverick’s at it again
Haldron-44@reddit
Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full.
lordnacho666@reddit
Does it only make that effect when it is going transonic?
DesperateLawyer5902@reddit
nope, depends on adiabatic water storage per m² of air
lordnacho666@reddit
So it just flies while creating a cloud?
GenericAccount13579@reddit
You’ll see this on commercial aircraft too. Especially on takeoff when they’re at higher AoAs at low altitude. Makes a big negative pressure zone above the wing and causes air to condense.
DesperateLawyer5902@reddit
yes it reduces/increases pressure above/below wings and this leads to condensation effects (clouds)
dj6586@reddit
Bro just escaped some Libyans in a VW by the skin of his teeth
DonKeighbals@reddit
Great Scott!
Turbulent-Weevil-910@reddit
here's the video
BigGrayBeast@reddit
Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full