While subject to the influence of numerous factors, the curvature of the Earth becomes observable at an altitude of approximately 35,000 feet (10.670 meters). This is the cruising altitude of the majority of operational long-haul commercial aircraft; consequently, it is a daily vantage point for many of us.Despite their complete capabilities, military aircraft rarely reach that considerable distance. For example, the F-16 FigҺting Falcon has a ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), although it is not frequently required to soar to that altitude.

However, in the most recent entry for our Photo of the Day gallery, which was just published by the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and depicts an F-16 during a flight conducted in mid-August, one of them appears to be flying quite high.

The Falcon is currently stationed with the 64th Aggressor Squadron, an organization whose primary mission is to simulate adversaries during pilot training exercises. This footage was captured by the United States Air Force (USAF) during a routine training mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range.

The altitude at which the photograph was captured is not specified; however, it evidently surpasses the cloud ceiling, and distant observers may even discern indications of the Earth’s curvature. Even for us, who have been covering USAF equipment in action for quite some time, that is an extremely uncommon occurrence.

The primary methodology by which the United States Air Force instructs its pilots on how to engage a “professional adversary force” utilizing comparable hardware operated by the opposing forces is through the 64th Aggressor Squadron.

The unit’s primary objective is to prepare American pilots to react, respond, and act when confronted with adversaries of equal skill and weaponry – an unlikely occurrence in the real world, but one can never sаy with the current state of affairs.