Sonic Booms

My guess is that that one in the Eureka MOA might have been a mistake. As I recall, that area is generally used as an MOA to support aerial refueling operations out of McConnell AFB in Wichita. We used to have to avoid that area alot when I was involved in flight test at Cessna.

The one near Sheppard would probably be the area where they are teaching students transonic transitions in the T-38.

 

Rob,

Were any in Salina (or surrounding areas) when you were there?

 

When I was a kid living in Oklahoma City in the early 1960s, they did about a month or two of daily sonic boom tests. They flew a fighter jet over about 4 times a day and then used this as a study to assess the irritation and damage. There were a lot of sheetrock cracks and broken windows.

I think this study convinced the FAA to ban sonic flight over inhabited land areas.

 

I was wondering as to the location. As I lived closer to the range (Kanopolis) most of the planes were coming in at a slower speed.

 

When I was in a kid in Puerto Rico in the early '60s, I attended a school right on the ocean not far from SJU, which is also the P. R. Air National Guard (PRANG = great initials, huh?) base. Considering where we were, we kept the windows open and didn't need air conditioning.

We were used to hearing jets, but one day we were shaken by a loud sonic boom. Since they were flying F-86H Sabres, he must have been in a dive. I'll bet the pilot got a chewing out after he landed!

 

I remember the F-111 sonic booms when we lived on the lake outside of Plattsburg, NY back during the mid 60s.

But recently, I'm missing the BOOM BOOM when the Shuttle Orbiter announced its arrival home.
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Inhabited is the key.

South of Arizona north of Mexico, is the Barry M. Goldwater range(USAF/USMC). Mythbusters with the help of the Blue Angels created several booms for the experiment.
Article:
Mythbusters Episode Features Blue Angels, June 10th | Aero-News Network

Episode Teaser:
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlBMHFdCEY]Mythbusters Sonic Boom Myth - YouTube[/ame]

 

Living just a few miles from McChord AFB as a kid, before they were outlawed,
they were TERRIFYING as a kid. On a couple occasions, plates broke in
cabinets and once our front window broke out.

I have HORRIBLE memories of them and glad I no longer have to experience them.

And yes, I live but 1 mile from where I grew up so STILL glad they're gone

Jedi

 

The last time I heard sonic booms done on purpose, it was a few years back at the annual Edwards AFB open house. Twice - once to open the show and once after the lunch break - a two-seat F-15 flew high over and made the loud noise. The guy in the back seat was some dude named Yeager......

 

Living right under the N/S runway at Kirland AFB as a kid before they were outlawed,
they were FANTASTIC, JUST INCREDIBLE as a kid. Plates broke in the cabinets,
but no windows in our house. (Neighbors house, yes.)

I have GREAT memories of them and wish they were still allowed.

BTW, a B-36 landing right over our house did the same thing to the dishes...

Wonderful memories.

Just a counterpoint, Jedi.

 

I would have done anything to hear these on a regular basis as a kid! I still run outside when I hear Mil Helicopters flying low over the house. I still love loud noises of all types!

 

Boys love loud noises.... BOOM!!!!

Where are you that you hear Mil choppers?

 

Sonic Drive In's chilli dogs with onions are well know for their "Sonic booms" :=)

 

Will someone explain to me why there would be multiple "booms" opposed to just one?

 

Nose wave and tail wave.

Sonic Boom

 

Bow wave and tail wave. Partly also because it is going so much faster than an aircraft, enters the atmosphere at more than Mach 20.

Read this:

Sonic Boom

 

Very good. Thank you.

 

Supersonic flight corridors for military use still exist in many parts of the US. Many of those do not exist in a MOA or other restircted airspace, but have been developed to fly over largely unpopulated areas. There are exceptions, like the Edwards AFB and China Lake areas in southern California, such as R2508 which contains the high altitude supersonic corridor used by military aircraft for testing and training. Another example is the one existing in New Mexico, generally running N/S from Socorro to the Mexican border. Have flown that one myself dozens of times in years past at velocities up to mach 2.55.

The USAF has markedly smaller numbers of fighter and bomber aircraft than we did in the past and the frequency of supersonic flights has abated since supersonic flight became so routine. One exception is that F-22As were routinely flying supercruise flights at FL600 for several years until the recent partial pressure suit malfunctions. The FAA has special rules for supersonic flight at and above FL600, developed mainly for the SR-71. Very high altitude tends to abate sonic booms compared to those heard mostly in the past, which were primarily at FL300 to FL500. Above FL500 USAF regs require pressure or partial pressure suits.

The only location which allows CONUS supersonic flight at low level is in the Nellis AFB ranges, as far as I know. Mach 1.2 at 100-200' is very exciting, but very limited in time because of the extremely high fuel consumption, up to 120,000 lbs/hr for a twin engine fighter.

Civilian supersonic flight over CONUS is prohibited by the FAA, and they note Concorde is no longer flying.

Not even sure if T-38s still go supersonic as part of undergraduate pilot training, but since sonic booms are proportional to aircraft mass, the T-38 did not cause that many problems. A B-1B is another story.

I heard the boom from the Columbia as she reentered and broke up and remembered thinking the Tacos (150th FG) and their F-16s were up early. Not so.

 

Were you in ABQ when you heard the Columbia re-entry?

 

Makes sense - in Socorro, they probably wouldn't even notice a few sonic booms, what with all the explosions going on. Loved it while attending NM Tech back in the day.

I heard the Columbia as well - was just heading back from Death Valley to IL at the time.

 

Affirmative, in Albuquerque in bed that morning. Did not hear about the break-up until I powered up the PC. Did not figure out what it was until then.

 

Relevant:

LiveLeak.com - Brazilian Air Force Mirrages Break windows on government building

 

In Lubbock, Texas, it sounded like someone struck the front door with a closed fist.