Image: Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-Hornet-at-PCAM-Airshow

Description: During an aerial demo at the Pacific Coast Air Museum's 2005 "Wings Over Wine Country" airshow, an en:F/A-18 Hornet does a high-g pull-up. The high angle of attack causes powerful vortices to form around the edge of the leading-edge extensions of the wings. These strong leading edge vortices allows the Hornet's wings to generate lift despite these unusually high angles of attack. This makes the Hornet capable of extremely tight turns over a large range of speeds. In this image, a drop in pressure results in a drop in temperature severe enough to condense the water in the air, making the vortex visible as white "vapor".
Title: Airshowfan-dot-com--by-Bernardo-Malfitano--Image-of-Hornet-at-PCAM-Airshow
Credit: Airshowfan.com / Bernardo Malfitano
Author: Bernardo Malfitano
Usage Terms: Public domain
License: Public domain
Attribution Required?: No