https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20181218/going-in-circles-idling-air-force-pilot-creates-stunning-figure-8-over-gulf-of-mexico

PANAMA CITY BEACH – A strange cloud formation over the Gulf of Mexico caught the eyes of Panhandle residents today.

However, it ended up not being clouds at all. An Air Force fighter pilot idling in a large figure-eight over the gulf created the popular pattern.

The contrails were so well defined the National Weather Service in Tallahassee spotted them on their satellite.