Snapper shoots stunning image capturing jet at speed of sound – after five years of trying

A dedicated photographer has captured a spectacular image of a jet travelling at the speed of sound – after five YEARS of trying.

Joe Broyles has spent half-a-decade attempting to capture the rare shot, almost impossible due to the speed the aircraft moves.

His stunning image features an F-18 Super Hornet 2 jet with a vapour cone forming around it.

This cone, which lasted just tenths of a second, is produced when an aircraft reaches ‘transonic velocity’ – the speed of sound (766mph).

Joe, 61, photographed the event at the Oceania Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, USA, on September 21.

He admitted he needed some luck to capture the shot after attending multiple air shows over the last five years without it.

Having picked a spot in the sky, Joe snapped eight images in less than two seconds hoping to capture the jet at just the right moment.

He said: “It was moving so fast I thought I was going to get a whiplash as he went by.

“I’ve been trying for five years to get a picture of a jet hitting the speed of sound.

“They move so fast it’s near impossible to time when to start pushing the shutter button.

“Another factor playing into the difficulty of taking this photo is the height the jet will pass at.

“I didn’t know if he would come in high, low or somewhere in the middle – I have experienced all three.

“When I saw the photograph, I was absolutely ecstatic.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for at least five years so when I saw the image I raised my arm with a closed fist – I finally got it.”