Loud bang in Midlands!!

[DQuaN]

Just read this on another forum.

The MoD have released the following statement

"A helicopter was observed flying.

2 airplane thingies that have rockets, bullets and men with odd helmets flew at it.

One of them backfired.

Scared the crap out of the pilot.

The helicopter is ok though.

The pilot reports having the colly-wobbles, and is presently on the phone to his Mum"

MESSAGE ENDS

 

[Clark]

I'm surprised Midlanders aren't used to the sound of explosions.

You must be confusing the Midlands with Liverpool.

 

[acascianelli]

http://gizmodo.com/5901721/hijacking-panic-sends-terrifying-sonic-booms-over-england

 

[disinfected]

There seems to be a very popular misconception out there that there is a sonic boom that occurs as a plane breaks the sound barrier. Like a boom that the plane emits as it crosses over into supersonic speeds.

It's not like an explosion. It's like wake of a boat.

Maybe I'm not giving the masses enough credit though...

But there is such a thing as a sonic boom, which is a rather loud noise. (Though not an explosion or a noise coming directly out of the engines.)

The bigger misconception is thinking this is breaking the sound barrier when it happens at air shows. (It's not, it's just getting very close.)

 

[ExigeEvan]

There seems to be a very popular misconception out there that there is a sonic boom that occurs as a plane breaks the sound barrier. Like a boom that the plane emits as it crosses over into supersonic speeds.

It's not like an explosion. It's like wake of a boat.

Maybe I'm not giving the masses enough credit though...

True, but unless you're travelling alongside, or repeatedly passing the aircraft then you're only going to hear it briefly, like an explosion.

But yes, you are right, it's very comparable to a boat's wake.

The bigger misconception is thinking this is breaking the sound barrier when it happens at air shows. (It's not, it's just getting very close.)
*snip*

True, you'll often hear jets going high "tran-sonic" at air shows, usually someone's been a very naughty boy if they push through.

 

[disinfected]

When I was still tracking this kind of thing during my time in the 58th Fighter Squadron, it meant a lot of paperwork for me if someone broke the sound barrier. Including the demo pilot.