It is a standard effect when the sun is at your back and you see the shadow of your aircraft in front of you. I am also a real pilot and often see this with a beautiful rainbow halo around my aircraft shadow, when I am flying near a cloud and the sun is at my back or off to the rear side. It is a truly beautiful sight when you are up in the sky and see yourself as a shadow with a rainbow around it, on a cloud.
You can also see it as a bright area around your shadow on the ground, when viewed from the air. The shadow of your aircraft is called a brocken spectre. The ring of light around that shadow is called a glory. There is also a beautiful optical phenomenon called an anti-corona or pilot's bow, but usually know as the Glory. It is due to the sun shining through air that is ladened with water droplets.
