[flosstop]

Here my guess: - It appears stationary as it is travelling towards the camera and very far away. - It isn't apparent in the visible spectrum because of cloud/haze between it and the camera. - The plume appears as it passes through a layer of cloud and heats the moisture therein.

[libraryatnight]

I've experienced this a few times driving near the airport. It's really mind blowing until the highway changes direction a bit and the illusion is ruined.

[madaxe_again]

I think that's sound - and the "plumes" from the object would make sense as turbulence from its passage seen head-on.

I'd love to have a straightforward explanation to this mystery too, which was a few months before this was filmed, and has been an itch in my mind for the intervening years. http://www.pbase.com/flying_dutchman/pacific_eruption

[Applejinx]

Absolutely. It's a twin engined something, and we're seeing the heat signature. May not even be an unusual aircraft.

[heatButNoRadar]

How come no radar signature. Is that not unusual for aircraft, or are most aircraft radar absorbing?

[kowdermeister]

Seeing that blog post this is probably the case.