Sonic boom rattles SoCal!

[JRM]

How many of you heard the extremely loud sonic boom from the space shuttle Endeavor's re-entry today (around 1pm Pacific)? Our entire block ran out of their houses, wondering what had happened. Touchdown was at Edwards AFB, 1:35pm.

At first, we thought it was an explosion. Then, we thought it was a weird earthquake. I finally learned that the space shuttle was landing in our backyard today -- and got very upset that I didn't hear about it sooner (otherwise I'd have hopped in the car and driven to see it land!).

[bad hammy]

That brings up a question: whatever happened to sonic booms?? We used to have them all the time when I was a kid but somewhere along the way they stopped, even before a number of local military bases closed down. Did they get legislated out of existence, or what?

[gh]

Here's a start:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 20,00.html

[gm]

That brings up a question: whatever happened to sonic booms?? We used to have them all the time when I was a kid but somewhere along the way they stopped, even before a number of local military bases closed down. Did they get legislated out of existence, or what?

Yes. In several countries, laws were passed banning supersonic flight over land. I blame J.J. Fad.

[gh]

One of the greatest things I saw as a kid was when I was at a remote Nike (the missile, not the shoe!) base in the mountains of Northern Idaho, probably around 1958, and they had a flyover by my favorite plane of the time, the F-102 Delta Dagger. Three of them, in tight formation, probably no more than 500ft of altitude and they went sonic on us; thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

[JRM]

Maybe not quite the same thing, but for the last couple of years the B-2 Stealth Bomber has signaled the start of the Rose Parade. The sound those engines make is quite bone-shattering, even at "cruise" speed! It was later accompanied by two F117s, but last year was not around (maybe they were all overseas...).

Here's a shot I took a few years ago:

[Marlow]

Most Mach+ jets are also capable of very high altitudes, so now they merely climb to altitude before going super-sonic. Then it just sounds like distant thunder.

[jhc68]

When the shuttle landed regularly at Edwards we here on the California central coast area got pretty used to window rattling booms on every return. The loudest I ever heard, though, was when the SR-71 set the record for a coast to coast flight not long before the Blackbird was official retired from service... have they brought them back into use post-9/11 or not?

[marknhj]

I was in Joshua Tree at 1pm and didn't hear a thing. Did have an awesome view of Venus and Jupiter next to the new moon driving home though...

[tandfman]

One of the greatest things I saw as a kid . . . . probably around 1958, and they had a flyover by my favorite plane of the time, the F-102 Delta Dagger.

I have been thinking about this on and off all evening, and I've concluded that there has never been a time in my life when I had a favorite plane. I've had a favorite baseball team, a favorite beer, a favorite tenor, and even a favorite dog, but never a favorite plane. I guess I've missed something.

[jhc68]

I had two favorite planes: the Corsair fighter/bomber and the B-58 Hustler.

I stopped having new favorite planes about the time I lost the ability to identify the exact make, model and year every car I saw.

[bad hammy]

It was later accompanied by two F117s, but last year was not around (maybe they were all overseas...).

How do you know it was not around - it is, after all, a Stealth bomber!

[Marlow]

Coolest plane ever

[gh]

I had two favorite planes: the Corsair fighter/bomber and the B-58 Hustler.

I stopped having new favorite planes about the time I lost the ability to identify the exact make, model and year every car I saw.

I stopped as soon as the SR-71 was revealed.

[Vince]

NASA is diligently working on a "blended wing/body" designed to eliminate loud sonic booms.
http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/ ... 092-03.jpg

The best aircraft around these days are by far the F-22 Raptor, vectored thrust, steathy and one mean mofo.

Having said that, watching the big birds like the C-5 Galaxy are the best. They are so huge they appear graceful when banking and maneuvering.