# Big Boom (Sonic?) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 8, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498 "2006-03-08T04:35:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/1 "2006-03-08T04:35:54Z")
Today at around 2 in the afternoon and yesterday at about the same time there was this huge boom sound that was heard within a 20-30 (ish) mile radius. It shook my windows. The only thing that we can figure is a sonic boom. Why would this be happing, isn’t it illegal outside an emergency or airshow? BTW I live in a very rural area ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/2 "2006-03-08T04:48:06Z")
> [@mrald](#): > > Why would this be happing, isn’t it illegal outside an emergency or airshow? Not for military aircraft, AFAIK. Is there an air base within a 100 miles or so of you? It might have been construction demolition, too, although a 20-mile radius seems a bit much for that. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/3 "2006-03-08T04:57:22Z")
There is one in about 80 miles south and one about 150 northwest of us. Do they do that sometimes for practice? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/4 "2006-03-08T05:15:28Z")
> [@mrald](#): > > Do they do that sometimes for practice? [Yep](http://www.baseops.net/militarypilot/enjjpt_flying.html): > [@](#): > > Here you will take the fundamentals that you learned in the T-37 and speed them up to be able to fly the supersonic T-38A Talon. The flights in this stage will consist of pattern and area work similar to what was accomplished in the T-37 contact phase. There is only 1 contact check ride, and after it you will have 8 more contact flights to stay current on those maneuvers. One of these rides will be the “zoom-and-boom” ride where you will be allowed to do an unrestricted afterburner climb to FL390 and then go supersonic! Wheeeee! ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/5 "2006-03-08T06:22:30Z")
Thanks guys, my husband didn’t believe it, but that is got to be what it is. And now I know that they were probably training, and not chasing a terrorist I feel better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![rbroome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/838e76/32.png) [@rbroome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rbroome)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/6 "2006-03-08T12:59:46Z")
> [@mrald](#): > > Today at around 2 in the afternoon and yesterday at about the same time there was this huge boom sound that was heard within a 20-30 (ish) mile radius. It shook my windows. The only thing that we can figure is a sonic boom. > > Why would this be happing, isn’t it illegal outside an emergency or airshow? > > BTW I live in a very rural area Actually one of the places it would be illegal would be an airshow. Personally since it was so unusual, I gather you haven’t heard such a thing before and so I suspect it wasn’t an airplane going supersonic, my guess would be a meteor that noone happened to see. When they heat up enough they explode and if they get low enough it is reported to be quite a loud noise. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/7 "2006-03-08T15:02:41Z")
It is not legal to go supersonic over populated areas (not legal in that it is against federal regulations). Even military aircraft have to follow these regulations. I’ll have to track it down but I believe there is an area designated around Edwards AFB that they can go supersonic otherwise it has to be over the ocean. That is not to say that some hotshot might not “accidentally” push the aircraft a little too far. If his superiors find out he would get his ass handed to him. Of course that doesn’t mean the military might not be doing something without telling anyone. It’s not a violation of federal regulations if it never happened, wink wink. I remember when I was a kid hearing several sonic booms. I found out later it was happening up and down the East coast. UfO theorists point to this incident as proof of… something. Most reliable theories I heard say that the military was doing something they didn’t want to talk about, probably with the SR71. I you don’t mind mentioning, what state do you live in? Are you near an Air Force training base? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_the_turtle/32/2926_2.png) [@Fear\_the\_Turtle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_the_Turtle)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/8 "2006-03-08T18:57:38Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I’ll have to track it down but I believe there is an area designated around Edwards AFB that they can go supersonic otherwise it has to be over the ocean. No need to track it down. We have a supersonic corridor between here (EAFB) and Nevada. [http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0060b.shtml](http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0060b.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/9 "2006-03-08T19:15:13Z")
There are a lot of flight “Military Operations Areas” (MOA) scattered around less populated areas. They’re clearly marked on aeronautical charts. Not being a military pilot, I can’t say what they do there, but I’d guess some of it includes training, and some of that might include flying faster than sound. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/10 "2006-03-08T19:29:37Z")
> [@mrald](#): > > Today at around 2 in the afternoon and yesterday at about the same time there was this huge boom sound that was heard within a 20-30 (ish) mile radius. It shook my windows. The only thing that we can figure is a sonic boom. > > Why would this be happing, isn’t it illegal outside an emergency or airshow? > > BTW I live in a very rural area Sonic booms ususally go BA-BOOM. That is two sharp booms in close succession. Did this one do that or was a single noise? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/11 "2006-03-08T20:01:28Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Sonic booms ususally go BA-BOOM. That is two sharp booms in close succession. Did this one do that or was a single noise? True enough; one from the leading end, the other from the trailing end. But, various environmental factors can act to smear out the separate booms, so they become less distinct. Similar to the way a thunderclap is spread out into a long rumble, instead a sharp crack. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/12 "2006-03-08T20:08:41Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > True enough; one from the leading end, the other from the trailing end. But, various environmental factors can act to smear out the separate booms, so they become less distinct. Similar to the way a thunderclap is spread out into a long rumble, instead a sharp crack. I know, and distance does the same thing. I once heard three sonic booms. One from the plane and two echos, one from the Sierra Nevada range to the west and one from the mountains to the north. The echos were still two booms each but not nearly so distinct as the direct boom. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/13 "2006-03-08T20:13:28Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > Similar to the way a thunderclap is spread out into a long rumble, instead a sharp crack. 'Course, that’s also a function of the shape and lie of the stroke, too, which I’d think is irrelevant in an aircraft generated boom. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/14 "2006-03-08T20:23:07Z")
> [@CC](#): > > 'Course, that’s also a function of the shape and lie of the stroke, too, which I’d think is irrelevant in an aircraft generated boom. Absolutely. But, multipath interference (echoes from various objects in the area which slightly lag the main sound), also plays the main an important role in both situations, which is something I could have been clearer on. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/15 "2006-03-08T22:29:34Z")
It’s nice to hear from **mrald** in BFE. Some folks say BFE is a mythical place, but I always held out hope. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![LiveOnAPlane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@LiveOnAPlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LiveOnAPlane)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/16 "2006-03-08T23:13:12Z")
> [@AskNott](#): > > It’s nice to hear from **mrald** in BFE. Some folks say BFE is a mythical place, but I always held out hope. 😉 Huh. I just thought of it as Bielefeld, Germany. ---
**Author:** ![MaryEFoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MaryEFoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaryEFoo)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/17 "2006-03-08T23:54:54Z")
Another clue to a sonic boom: All has been quiet, then comes the BOOM or BA-BOOM, followed immediately by the usual aaawwooooaaaa sound of a plane in the distance. That’s because the plane is outrunning its engine sound–you didn’t hear the sound as the plane approached. If the plane is far enough away, you’ll only hear the boom. ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/18 "2006-03-09T00:08:50Z")
> [@David Simmons](#): > > Sonic booms ususally go BA-BOOM. That is two sharp booms in close succession. Did this one do that or was a single noise? Oh man it was one single boom, loud and house shaking. The area I am in isn’t greatly populatedk, but it is populated. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/19 "2006-03-09T00:11:07Z")
> [@LiveOnAPlane](#): > > Huh. I just thought of it as Bielefeld, Germany. That seems to be the airport code for Bielefeld and it’s a mythical place. The guide doesn’t know anything about it. ```auto Airport Code : BFE Airport Name : Bielefeld (?) Runway Length : Unknown (add) Runway Elevation : Unknown (add) City : Bielefeld (?) Country : Germany (?) Country Abbrev. : DE (?) Airport Guide : Unavailable Longitude : 8° 30’ 0” E (?) Latitude : 52° 0’ 0” N (?) World Area Code : 429 (?) GMT Offset : +0.0 (?) Telephone : Unknown (add) Fax : Unknown (add) Email : Unknown (add) Website : Unknown (add) ``` ---
**Author:** ![mrald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mrald](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrald)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498/20 "2006-03-09T00:17:01Z")
Okay didn’t get to finish that last post. It happened again same time and everything. Everyone is saying blasting but it doesn’t rumble. So meteor is out unless aliens are throwing them at us. BTW I live in North Arkansas, about 2-3 hours Northeast of Little Rock [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-boom-sonic/347498.md?page=2)