14-05-2009, 09:37
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#82
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cf.mega poster
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Warrington ntl:81304 Altitude: 12m (and falling)
Posts: 4,499
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Re: Plane Spotters Corner
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/news...d-barrier.html
Quote:
Its unmistakable teardrop profile is shrouded in the blur of a condensation cloud as it reaches high subsonic speed.
...
The cloud effect is caused by a vapour cone also known as the "Prandtl-Glauert singularity".
It appears when there is a sudden drop in air pressure around aircraft travelling just above or below the speed of sound.
These condensation clouds, also known as "shock collars", are frequently seen during space shuttle launches but their precise nature is still under debate.
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