# Sonic booms.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-booms/519082>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [November 27, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-booms/519082 "2009-11-27T01:10:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-booms/519082/41 "2009-12-02T02:33:40Z")

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> [@Pork\_Rind](#):
>
> For what it’s worth, the sneak pass part of the Blue Angels’ show, while very fast, is still subsonic.

But that roar is relatively long, while the boom is abrupt and short.  
Do the BAs never do supersonic? I’ve never been to one of their shows. :o

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**Author:** ![Pork\_Rind](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pork_rind/32/111_2.png) [@Pork\_Rind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pork_Rind)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-booms/519082/42 "2009-12-02T02:49:22Z")

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> [@mangeorge](#):
>
> Do the BAs never do supersonic? I’ve never been to one of their shows. :o

Nope, as mentioned above, it would be of dubious legality, not to mention all the broken windows they’d be responsible for. I’ve seen the show dozens of times over the last 20 years, many of those times with a mil-air scanner and have never heard them call out a speed above 600 knots or so (690mph).

[Wikipedia:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Angels)

> [@](#):
>
> Sneak Pass: the fastest speed of the show is about 700 mph (just under Mach 1 at sea level)

Google tells me that the speed of sound at sea level in 68 degree F air is 761 mph.

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**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2009, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sonic-booms/519082/43 "2009-12-02T03:10:39Z")

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If I were a promoter, I’d set up some stands way out in the middle of nowhere and advertise “Hear and Feel Real Sonic Booms” I’d charge like $20 per. Then I’d get one of these pilots who own a supersonic capable jet and have him/her give the folks several booms at various altitudes and distances. Of course I’d show some of the common aerobotics and such.  
My sub title would be "Lets show them Navy sissies how real pilots fly. 😛  
Why not???  
I’d do it with a big ol’ winky. 😉

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