Something we dont hear anymore --- Sonic Booms!

[Dude111]

A question for everyone... Do you remember hearing a sonic boom in your younger years??

Im thinking maybe they just dont break it anymore....

[ponytail]

I think it's illegal now.

[Dude111]

Ya maybe.... Doesnt mean someone wouldnt still do it and its strange they dont...

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by ponytail

I think it's illegal now.

Sonic booms became illegal in the United States in 1973 when the government banned overland supersonic flight due to complaints about the noise and potential damage caused by sonic booms. This ban was primarily a response to public pressure regarding the disruptive nature of these sounds.

__________________________________

Code Of Federal Regulations


§ 91.817 Civil aircraft sonic boom.

(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 except in compliance with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued to the operator in accordance with § 91.818.

(b) In addition, no person may operate a civil aircraft for which the maximum operating limit speed MM0 exceeds a Mach number of 1, to or from an airport in the United States, unless—

(1) Information available to the flight crew includes flight limitations that ensure that flights entering or leaving the United States will not cause a sonic boom to reach the surface within the United States; and

(2) The operator complies with the flight limitations prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section or complies with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued in accordance with § 91.818.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2120-0005)

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-1...section-91.817

_____________________________________

However ....

~~~ SEE Update On Next Post ~~~

[Foggy]

Originally Posted by Dude111

Ya maybe.... Doesnt mean someone wouldnt still do it and its strange they dont...

52-year Ban on Supersonic Flight Over U.S. to Be Lifted

June 7 2025
WASHINGTON D.C. — For the first time in 52 years, non-military supersonic flight will be legal over American soil, with POTUS signing an executive order for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to scrap its ban.

Commercial supersonic flight over the United States was banned in 1973 in response to complaints regarding the boom produced by aircraft flying faster than Mach 1. These sonic booms have been known to cause property damage, especially windows, as well as temporary and, in extreme cases, permanent hearing loss.


The issue has been contentious for the better part of six decades, since the introduction of supersonic aircraft, especially for people living under flight paths and environmental protection groups.

The June 6, 2025, Executive Order states, “By updating obsolete standards and embracing the technologies of today and tomorrow, we will empower our engineers, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to deliver the next generation of air travel, which will be faster, quieter, safer, and more efficient than ever before.”

“Within 18 months of the date of this order, the Administrator of the FAA shall issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to establish a standard for supersonic aircraft noise certification under 14 CFR Part 36 and amend 14 CFR 91.817.” The order essentially instructs the FAA to establish a standard for noise certification for aircraft exceeding Mach 1, as well as lift the ban for overland supersonic flight, as long as aircraft do not produce an audible sonic boom on the ground.

The Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology policy, Michael Kratsios, said, “The reality is that Americans should be able to fly from New York to LA in under 4 hours, — Advances in aerospace engineering, material science and noise reduction now make overland supersonic flight not just possible, but safe, sustainable and commercially viable.”

https://www.airwaysmag.com/new-post/...s-to-be-lifted

[Dude111]

Well lets be glad they dont do it!

[Foggy]

Doorbell Cam Captures Fireball Flash
Across In The Sky Accompanied By
‘LOUD SONIC BOOM’

March 15 2026

The sky is falling in Ohio.

A man’s doorbell camera captured a fireball flashing across the sky Saturday night. (March 14 2026)

The eerie object is believed to be a meteor that moved so fast it sparked a sonic boom as it fell to earth.

“Caught a meteor last night on the Ubiquiti cam,” Pickerington, Ohio, resident Kristopher Maki posted on Facebook.

“We were laying in bed winding down for the evening and heard a loud sonic boom.

“If you were in Pickerington and heard it around 10:35, this was it."
The video clip shows the meteor flashing in the distance before it disappears in a flash of light
behind homes in the suburban neighborhood, followed by a loud, rumbling noise.

The sighting was one of several that lit up social media outside Columbus, WSYX-TV News reported.

The American Meteor Society has not listed the incident yet, the outlet said.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/to...om/ar-AA1YGn2w

[Dude111]

Wow thats interesting!!

[Foggy]

(...)
Some Interesting Facts About Sonic Booms

~ Most sonic booms aren't felt on land (most supersonic training flights are out over the ocean).

~ Atmospheric events are difficult to detect with seismographs because they usually transfer very little seismic energy into the ground.

~ Atmospheric conditions like temperature inversions and calm surface winds can make sound propagate farther than normal.

~ Aircraft actually produce two booms, but they usually arrive so close together that they're indistinguishable.

~ "Under certain aircraft operating conditions (e.g., acceleration, dives, turns, and climbs), the sonic boom conoids generated by the aircraft may intersect one another. This effect is known as sonic boom focusing. Such focusing may also result from refraction effects caused by variations in atmospheric sound and wind speed. Focused sonic booms may be of much greater intensity than unfocused booms and are typically generated by fighter aircraft in "dogfight" maneuvers." (USFWS)

~ USGS instruments are not designed to detect or analyze atmospheric phenomena, and atmospheric research is not part of the USGS mission.

~ If you type "sonic boom" into our website search, you'll get a listing of event pages for sonic booms, though it certainly isn't comprehensive. Since these events are given a magnitude of 0.0, you will need to include ALL magnitudes in your Latest Earthquakes Map and List to see them.

https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthq...ds/sonic-booms

[Dude111]

That interesting about 2 booms Foggy... Yes I usually only heard 1 when they did it,they must be millseconds apart!