Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Asked

When Mach 1 is achieved there are two booms that are created. One is directed forward of the aircraft and can be mistaken for thunder on the ground (ie not very noticeable) The other (primary) boom is sent downwards and this is very loud but just how loud is it and does the sound of the boom increase? I know a key factor in this is the altitude of the aircraft but in proportion would the sound generated from the boom be louder at say M2 than at M1?

Sometimes a fighter jet will go over me and I think this is quite loud but they are not at mach speeds and I imagine a supersonic boom to be immense. Perhaps ear ringing. Concorde could only fly supersonic over sea due to the noise created at mach speeds but what about the sailors and cruise passengers below? Would the Concorde captain consider these factors pre-flight or just be told of them afterwards? 😀

QUIZ TIME QUIZ TIME QUIZ TIME

Quiz Time Question:

What hand-held device creates its own sonic boom?

Answers 13 Answers

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violentviolet
violentviolet
First OfficerFirst Officer
Joined: May 26, 2006 Posts: 392 Location: Kilmarnock
Answered

A gun? Dont Know

Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Answered

I suppose it does so technically you are correct but I'm thinking of something else...

hinch
hinch
Chief CaptainChief Captain
Joined: Aug 27, 2005 Posts: 1496 Location: Austria
Answered

boom box?

no, that was poor.

a clock? i swear that had something to do with it...

Alec Stelloh (Thunderbirdman2)
Alec Stelloh (Thunderbirdman2)
First OfficerFirst Officer
Joined: Jul 28, 2006 Posts: 440 Location: Milwaukee,Wisconsin
Answered

a handheld device this otta be good

Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Answered

hinch wrote:

boom box?

no, that was poor.

a clock? i swear that had something to do with it...

I'm being misleading by using the term 'device' as its not a mechanical device. Its a basic material fashioned in to a device! No 20th centuary influence.

Boom Box? Where can I buy one of those? Very handy!

A Clock? What part of a clock could create a sonic boom? The second hand is the best candidate but still too quiet and slow for a boom maker. 😀

....?

tomthetank
tomthetank
Chief CaptainChief Captain
Joined: Aug 24, 2003 Posts: 3392 Location: Newport S/Wales
Answered

A whip ❓

Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Answered

Yes. 👍

Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Answered

Can anyone give me an idea on how loud the primary boom is?

Alec Stelloh (Thunderbirdman2)
Alec Stelloh (Thunderbirdman2)
First OfficerFirst Officer
Joined: Jul 28, 2006 Posts: 440 Location: Milwaukee,Wisconsin
Answered

around 95 decibles??

Guest Ed
Guest Ed
Guest
Answered

Jamie4590 wrote:

Can anyone give me an idea on how loud the primary boom is?

We used to hear the sonic booms in the Los Angeles area when the space shuttle would land at Edwards Air Force Base. It was loud enough to hear inside your house with the windows and doors closed, but I wouldn't say it rattled the windows. Just kind of a double "boom boom."

Loud, but not ear ringing kind of loud. Not as loud as the drummer in my last band, or as loud as the stereo in my neighbor's car. Mad

But then, Edwards AFB is close to 100 miles from here.

Ed

CrashGordon
CrashGordon
Chief CaptainChief Captain
Joined: Jun 20, 2005 Posts: 3821
Answered

When I lived in the eastern part of Arizona, we'd get some flights of B-1Bs out of New Mexico on training flights. Usually, they were below 1000 ft. AGL. On a couple of occasions, the pilots had a bit to much speed. Fortunately, it didn't happen late at night. You wouldn't want to be awakened by a sonic boom from a plane that close. 😳 🙄

Jamie4590
Jamie4590
Guest
Answered

I don't understand why Concorde couldn't fly over land in excess of Mach 1 even at cruising altitude. Would the boom still be audible even at the highest flight levels?

Germán Campopiano (Oberkomando)
Germán Campopiano (Oberkomando)
CaptainCaptain
Joined: May 02, 2005 Posts: 833 Location: Argentina
Answered

Jamie4590 wrote:

I don't understand why Concorde couldn't fly over land in excess of Mach 1 even at cruising altitude. Would the boom still be audible even at the highest flight levels?

Well if that plane going to mach 2 + or -, will make a diference, when a subsonic airliner flyes over us we actually can hear them, and it is recognisable, i think the concorde will be heared as well. It may not be a bother for many people, but it could be for others. 😕

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