Earthquake Or F111 Sonic Boom!!
 

Was wondering if anyone in SE Qld heard the F111 Sonic boom or knows somthing about it. Got a brief rundown from a friend but don't know the whole story.

Try here
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=20113

Apparently the pig was 100km off shore but a temperature inversion trapped the boom. Sound fair dinkum?

I used to work at the Bombing Range at Evans Head a few years back, and was privy to witnessing 2 F111's go supersonic over the top of us at about 50ft. Blew every window in the place, lifted the roof, did a heap of damage in a split second. By my calculations they were travelling at about 300m per second. It was awesome!!! The best thing is I managed to get it on film as stills and a mate got it all on video. What an awesome weapon of an aircraft!!

Obiwan

Sounds like a long shot to me.

The shock wave would have been significanly depleted after 100 Km.

I've been over Mach 2.5 climbing through 50,000 ft in an F111E over Texas USA and no one noticed except me. It was awesome.

But Texans were used to calling big (BUFF) noises and sonic bangs the "Sounds of Freedom" in the 70s.

sorry, isnt the speed of sound 340m/s?

Flyingkiwi

Spot on for sea level.

295 m/sec at the tropopause at standard temperature -56 C.

Never been near an earthquake nor experienced the sound barrier being broken ...... but was sitting with the kids in the lounge room when my ears "popped" and almost simultaneously the whole house shook for about 2-3 seconds. Fortunately no damage to speak of, however my neighbour had light fittings dislodged ! I don't know what the heck it was and have my doubts about both explanations. Would anyone have a radar tape as proof?

Milt
Sounded unlikely but its apprently the excuse that defence are offering :rolleyes:

Macrohard

Could you advise your approximate position within a Km or 2 and how far from the coast?

Will attempt to determine the specifics.

But note that the F111 was one of ours and a reminder of the awesome capability they possess in our interests.

so what 'awesome capability' does the ability to go supersonic provide??

When all else fails we can make the bad guys ears go 'pop'.

ftrplt

With that handle, you should be telling us...

Let me think why I would rather go supersonic...

1. Arrive over target sooner
2. Depart target faster
3. Intercept suspects faster
4. Breakfast in London, Breakfast in New York (until recently canceled by Rod Eddington and alleged popular lack of demand).

Being quick never did sled pilots any harm. When intercepted by MIGS at FL500 they showed a clean pair of heels.

Now my Dad once told me a great story about out-flying a Mosquito in an exercise where he was in a venerable Swordfish, but that is getting off-topic.

I guess the sum-up is speed DIFFERENCE is what gives the edge.

VHCU

Sounds like ftrplt is a young wet behind the ears boggie fighter pilot who is hacked off that he doesn't have an aircraft that can come anywhere near to catching an F111 !!!

Nor is he likely to get one in the near future.

Milt, Check your PM's.

The first bang was the aircraft's shockwave. The 2 or 3 second rumble afterwards was from all the cowls and skin panels that fell off and the fan blades separating. Can any of the RAAF pigs still get to cruise @ FL500 these days?

It can give your SAS guys on the ground the ability to capture an Iraqi concrete factory without firing a shot!:ok:

Lodown

Appreciate that we are most fortunate to have in our Defence pig stye one of the more capable and high performing aircraft currently in use anywhere and that their protective umbrella is also over your head if you are fortunate enough to be Down Under.

Do you have reasons for wanting to denigrate the pigs?

Note that the engines have three fan stages in the airflow bipass around the central core and that the crews take a risk exceeding FL500 without oxygen pressure breathing.

Surprisingly they still have tail hooks, a bilge pump in the crew module, close terrain following and a spectacular dump and burn.

They are really pigs with long range trotters that can readily bring home the bacon!!

Oh dear... It's just a weapon, not a date.

I live about 30kms north of Brisbane, just south of Caboolture, and our whole house shook for about 3-4 seconds. No damage, but I had to straighten some pictures on walls.

I live to the north of Brisbane in Scarborough. I have been through a minor earth quake and the "sonic boom" frightened the crap out of me.