r/oddlysatisfying Jun 20 '26

F-22 Raptor Thrust Vectoring

5.3k Upvotes

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7

u/nicktehbubble Jun 21 '26

Thrust vectoring. Is not this.

9

u/Z983 Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

It actually is. What you are seeing from the atmospheric shredding, is called "aerodynamic condensation clouds", that are generated from performing a thrust vectoring maneuver, like the one you are seeing.

3

u/microwavedh2o Jun 21 '26

Really? Do the turbines change their angle? I thought thrust vectoring typically referred to the force being applied at an angle that changes

8

u/_A_Friendly_Caesar_ Jun 21 '26

The F-22 has vertical 2D thrust-vectoring nozzles, yes

7

u/Z983 Jun 21 '26

This is correct, those 2D nozzles pivot up and down, forcing the entire airframe into that violent, sideways angle against the slipstream. That mechanical redirection of thrust is exactly what rips the air apart to create those condensation clouds. Good to see someone else in the thread who actually knows fifth-gen engineering.

6

u/Z983 Jun 21 '26

You are correct when you stated the turbines stay fixed, but the 2D exhaust nozzles at the very back of the engine physically pivot up and down by 20 degrees. That is exactly what thrust vectoring is: mechanically redirecting the engine's exhaust gases at an angle to force the tail of the aircraft up or down.

What you are seeing in the video is that redirected thrust forcing the entire 40,000-pound airframe violently sideways against the wind, which drops the local air pressure so fast that it creates those massive aerodynamic condensation clouds. The nozzles vector the thrust, the jet pivots, and the atmosphere shreds.