One of the most fascinating aviation moments ever as Airbus A330 appears to hover like an illusion in the sky

Published on Nov 03, 2025 at 11:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Daisy Edwards

Last updated on Nov 03, 2025 at 3:27 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones

Did you know that one of the most fascinating aviation moments ever happened in 1994 when an Airbus A330 appeared to hover in a display at Farnborough Airshow in the UK?

During the display, the Airbus A330 executes what is called a High-Alpha Pass, flying at a very high angle of attack with the nose pitched up into a headwind.

The effect makes it look like the airplane is ‘hovering’ still in the air briefly, looking like the craziest optical illusion.

Check out this large passenger plane defying all the known laws of physics, and let the video above blow your mind.

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Daisy has been creating tech content for SB since January 2025. With a History and Journalism degree from Goldsmiths University and a background in multimedia journalism, Daisy always has her ear to the ground to transform the latest in tech into an informative and engaging story.