Earthquake Or F111 Sonic Boom!!
Sonic booms were reasonably common over UK until banned by the fun police (early 60's?), so the "double thud" wasn't a real issue around the outer London suburbs. Living in Cornwall before wandering out here, Concorde occassionally dropped the tail end of a boom over the Penzance area, again not a real issue, except to the miserable gits amongst us 
However, the F4K that went supersonic at <100 feet on a low pass off Ark Royal certainly got everyone's attention!!! I was practising Egyptian PT in my pit on 2 deck, and thought the ship had blown up: especially when I stuck my head out into the passageway, which was full of "smoke" - which turned out to be dust and asbestos bits shaken loose from the pipes and crevices down the passageway: duly noted for when I go down with asbestosis
The F4 driver was in deep poo, until his claim that the MM read M0.95 was verified and the instrument declared U/S. Gutsy fly past, though, if only I'd been on deck with a camera
However, the F4K that went supersonic at <100 feet on a low pass off Ark Royal certainly got everyone's attention!!! I was practising Egyptian PT in my pit on 2 deck, and thought the ship had blown up: especially when I stuck my head out into the passageway, which was full of "smoke" - which turned out to be dust and asbestos bits shaken loose from the pipes and crevices down the passageway: duly noted for when I go down with asbestosis
The F4 driver was in deep poo, until his claim that the MM read M0.95 was verified and the instrument declared U/S. Gutsy fly past, though, if only I'd been on deck with a camera
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John Eacott
Back in the late 50s had just dropped a full load of inert 500 pnders, through cloud cover, from a Vulcan into Lyme Bay off southern England. Went down to have a look below cloud and found a carrier close to my drop zone. It should not have been in that controlled restricted area.
Flew a landing approach with gear down almost to touch down then slammed engines during a steep pull up. Hope I didn't singe anyone.
Did you ever hear a description of the event from someone on the carrier.?
Back in the late 50s had just dropped a full load of inert 500 pnders, through cloud cover, from a Vulcan into Lyme Bay off southern England. Went down to have a look below cloud and found a carrier close to my drop zone. It should not have been in that controlled restricted area.
Flew a landing approach with gear down almost to touch down then slammed engines during a steep pull up. Hope I didn't singe anyone.
Did you ever hear a description of the event from someone on the carrier.?
Milt,
Along with various Shacklebombers, Nimrods & one brave soul in a Lightning
Some stories were fiction, some fact, but yours must have been a sight to behold 
Any idea which carrier, and where are the photos......
Along with various Shacklebombers, Nimrods & one brave soul in a Lightning
Some stories were fiction, some fact, but yours must have been a sight to behold Any idea which carrier, and where are the photos......
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John Eacott
When on long final on the carrier, name I cannot recall, I could see that the guns were firing, hence the reason for it being in Lyme Bay. What were carriers in service July 57?
Guns went tight at about 2 miles so I dared to continue approach.
I didn't have a camera but I hope the usual recording of aircraft approaches was activated. Didn't pick up a mirror.
If I'd had a hook I could have had a shot at taking the carrier back to Boscombe.!!
When on long final on the carrier, name I cannot recall, I could see that the guns were firing, hence the reason for it being in Lyme Bay. What were carriers in service July 57?
Guns went tight at about 2 miles so I dared to continue approach.
I didn't have a camera but I hope the usual recording of aircraft approaches was activated. Didn't pick up a mirror.
If I'd had a hook I could have had a shot at taking the carrier back to Boscombe.!!
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Dropping a boom from 100km offshore is no problem, if you're pointing towards the coast with the right atmospheric conditions. I know, cos I've done it from 160+ km at 10000'. The seismologists were on the phone by the time we landed, to confirm it was a Pig and not an earth tremor - followed a day or so later by some Defence legal people because some clown was claiming I broke all his roof tiles and wanted reimbursement. Strangely enough he was the only one in the entire Brisbane area whose tiles had allegedly just been broken; also strangely enough there'd been a really nasty hailstorm about a week before...
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Memories Plus......
Was standing on the flight deck of HMAS MELBOURNE one night between Oz and NZ on exercise when 2 F111's flew past at about 100' at over Mach 1.......none of us saw the planes in the dark but we did think the damned ship had blown up from under us!!!!..
The Officer of the Watch soon after made a broadcast..."For those that are interested, 2 F111's just did a supersonic flypast...." What an understatement........those jet-jocks had the interest of 2000 jack tars who were ALL wondering what the hell happened!
Absolutely amazing sh*t!
The Officer of the Watch soon after made a broadcast..."For those that are interested, 2 F111's just did a supersonic flypast...." What an understatement........those jet-jocks had the interest of 2000 jack tars who were ALL wondering what the hell happened!
Absolutely amazing sh*t!
Grandpa Aerotart
ftrplt I have an Mpeg I downloaded from somewhere showing an F14 going between the carrier and one of it's escorts. Altitude <100'.
They're a maximum of 200 mts apart...and he's is definately supersonic...one very loud crack as he passes between the ships...the decks of which are lined with hooting and hollering, camera armed septics.
Why would the pigs have hurt people in the HMAS Melbourne case when everyone in the Mpeg seems to be thoroughly enjoying the show?
Pretty spectacular how the shockwaves are disturbing the water just behind the aircraft too.
They're a maximum of 200 mts apart...and he's is definately supersonic...one very loud crack as he passes between the ships...the decks of which are lined with hooting and hollering, camera armed septics.
Why would the pigs have hurt people in the HMAS Melbourne case when everyone in the Mpeg seems to be thoroughly enjoying the show?
Pretty spectacular how the shockwaves are disturbing the water just behind the aircraft too.
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ftrplt......
Don't wish to spoil your day ftrplt, but I have been witness to one other Mach 1 event and didn't need hospitalisation then either.......whilst standing on a dirt track way out the back of Charleville, again on exercise, this time with the Army, an F111 did a fly over, complete with sonic boom and shockwave, and none of us were hurt........other than a few brown stains on certain bits of undergarments for those who were not aware of what was happening!!!!
This time the aircraft was about 500'AGL and was most definately on the other side of the barrier...no question about it!
Again, a sight to behold and one hell of an experience.......
pity the only people who get to see this stuff now are the residents of Iraq!
This time the aircraft was about 500'AGL and was most definately on the other side of the barrier...no question about it! Again, a sight to behold and one hell of an experience....... pity the only people who get to see this stuff now are the residents of Iraq!
