Sonic boom heard over north Cornwall and Devon

[Lyneham Lad]

On the Beeb website.

Deary me - the RAF/RN really should be more careful of peoples' propensity to take fright (or umbrage) at the slightest.

A sonic boom has been heard across north Cornwall and neighbouring Devon.

Residents in the Bude area in Cornwall started saying on social media at about 12:15 GMT that they heard "a big bang", an "explosion" or "rumblings".

The noise was heard more than 14 miles (23km) away in Bradworthy, Devon, with people saying buildings shook and one thinking "it was an earthquake".

The RAF said it was caused by F-35 Lightning aircraft training about 25 miles (40km) offshore.

[SirToppamHat]

caused by F-35 Lightning aircraft training about 25 miles (40km) offshore.

So probably compliant with the regulations pertaining to supersonic flight then.

[WB627]

A stealth aircraft heard 14 miles away , no need for super sophisticated radar then

[Bengo]

The residents of Cornwall and North Devon have short memories. It is not that long ago Concorde came by twice or more each day, dropping a boom as it went.

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by Bengo

The residents of Cornwall and North Devon have short memories. It is not that long ago Concorde came by twice or more each day, dropping a boom as it went.

But that's the trouble when a daily event that everyone got used to and then ignored......be it the pocket rocket heading west for quarter of a century, or the then, large numbers of RAF aircraft whizzing about at 250ft all over most of the UK outside the south east corner of the country.

[Green Flash]

Originally Posted by WB627

A stealth aircraft heard 14 miles away , no need for super sophisticated radar then

I'm guessing that, just like the anti-sub brigade know of density layers and radar is aware of trapped layers, there may have been an acoustic trap which focused the sound a long way. Given the weather conditions over this part of the world just now, probably not surprising.

[chevvron]

Bangs over North Devon have been heard for hundreds of years, long before supersonic flight and Concorde.
Nobody has ever been able to explain them and they're often referred to as 'Barisal guns' after a similar phenomenon in India.

[nimboboy]

Unfortunately not many of the same residents still here, we've been overrun, help. And most of the complaints, farm smells, animals doing dirty things, muddy roads and now booms are not the locals.

[chevvron]

Originally Posted by nimboboy

Unfortunately not many of the same residents still here, we've been overrun, help. And most of the complaints, farm smells, animals doing dirty things, muddy roads and now booms are not the locals.

You forgot cocks crowing as the dawn breaks and waking them up at 4am.

[The Oberon]

Originally Posted by chevvron

You forgot cocks crowing as the dawn breaks and waking them up at 4am.

Don't forget the bells!

[chevvron]

Sorry didn't hear that, 'the bells they deafened me'!

[flighthappens]

Originally Posted by WB627

A stealth aircraft heard 14 miles away , no need for super sophisticated radar then

Unfortunately they do need to obey the laws of physics. But I will ask, were you able to target and engage it with your acoustically cued weapons?