As far as I know it is a fact that an aircraft can drop a supersonic bang at subsonic speeds - I understand that the airflow over the frame reach supersonic speeds despite the aircraft flying subsonic.
A few years ago when I was controlling at an area radar unit, a colleague of mine asked a formation of F16s to expidite climb to pass over civil trafic on an upper air route, which they duly obliged (subsonic), but in the process, dropped a 'bang' somewhere over UK land. Ooops
Last edited by rej; 10th May 2005 at 09:38.