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When I was a kid living at Ft Lewis, we got sonic booms several times a day from fighters taking off from McChord AFB. It got to the point that we didn't even notice them.
My grandparents came up to visit one time and the first time they heard one, they freaked the fuck out. One second they're sitting there talking with my parents and the next they're crawling around on the floor looking all distressed and shit, and we're sitting in our chairs looking at them and wondering what their problem was.
On the DMZ in Korea you could almost set your watch by the double sonic boom of the SR-71.
ReplyDeleteMost people here in Putnam County want the military to practice and get good at their jobs. I like to watch the jets and helicopters doing their thing over head.
ReplyDeleteIn the Florida Panhandle, we call it "The Sound Of Freedom." People who get upset over it are invited to leave.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.century-of-flight.net/special-use-airspace-explained/. Not over populated areas.
DeleteKind of curious to know what they thought the sheriff was going to do, does he have his own Patriot battery?
ReplyDeleteProbably calling asking what the boom was. It doesn't happen frequently.
Delete"They" all know what happens when they they go faster than sound, this is not a surprise to the flyers.
ReplyDeleteWhy is the question? What was going on that it was that important that they were allowed to fly that fast?
The commander should make an example of these pilots. Military pilots have special designated areas assigned for this type of training, it should never occur over populated areas. Look up MOAs and SUAs. When I was in, idiots like this would retire at O2 or O3 on a non-flying status.
DeleteIn modern fighter aircraft there is very little to no indication of going supersonic. As a matter of fact, some portions of the aircraft have supersonic flow while the aircraft as a whole are subsonic. Other that a small number on the display there is no indication to the aircrew of the mach number. There are a great many other things of higher importance to look at and monitor than that little number.
DeleteAs to why are they going close to the mach? They're doing their friggin' job! They slipped over the mach without noticing. You ever look down while driving and notice that you're going over the speed limit? Why are you allowed to drive so close to the limit? Bad things happen when YOU speed.
Finally, as to the damage, there may have been some. But having spent my career around fighter bases I will tell you there are people who are hysterical & call in at the drop of a hat, people who call in to complain because they don't like the military, and ones that hope to gain financial reward that they don't deserve. They lion's share of all calls are from these last three groups.
Anonymous... I would expect that the people flying these jets really fast will/should know EXACTLY what they are doing, you making excuses for them doesn't cut it.
DeleteThey are professionals and I expect professionals to do a professional job! I have seen hundreds of military jets (maybe thousands) since the last time I heard a sonic boom ... everybody can do it but that flight?
Anonymous, your excuses don't cut it.
As a kid growing up in se Ohio sonic booms were a common occurrence, just not down and personal
ReplyDeleteDaryl
As a child growing up in Southwest Ohio in the late 1950s, we were the subject of tests to determine the public's tolerance for sonic booms. We were hit repeatedly by low level booms, with a complaint hotline and people that would come around to pay for broken windows. (Yeah, they were that loud.) They apparently got the information they wanted, because it stopped after a while.
DeleteUsed to hear them over southwest Kansas in the 60s. Around 64 or 65 the Air Force parked a train with radars on a siding out at Hickok and we heard sonicbooms then. Dad managed to get us a tour of the train.
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