File:SonicBoom.jpg

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet breaking the sound barrier

(Original caption:) ''At sea aboard USS Constellation, July 7, 1999 &#8212; An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) breaks the sound barrier in the skies over the Pacific Ocean, July 7, 1999. VFA-151 is currently deployed with USS Constellation (CV 64). U.S. Navy photo by Ensign John Gay. Ens. Gay, photo officer for Fighter Squadron Two (VF 2), shot this image from the 0-10 level weather deck (the uppermost deck on the island) of USS Constellation (CV 64). It was shot with a Nikon N-90s with a Nikon 70-300 ED zoom lens, using Kodacolor 200 negative film. The camera was set for manual exposure of F/5.6 at 1/1000 sec. The image was acquired with a single shot, panned from left to right, prefocused at approximately 200-300 yards off the port side of the ship, where the aircraft flew by. This image has appeared in many publications worldwide. [990707-N-6483G-001]''

[http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/images/sndbarphoto.html Further information on the picture and link to a very high resolution version]