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Sonic Boom South West

A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
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Ghost from above
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Sonic Boom South West

Post by Ghost from above » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:18 pm

Anyone else in he South West Somerset/ Devon area hear a sonic Boom approx 15mins ago and know who the culprit was?
And before you say I haven't been on the Cider!
Mac

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Malcolm
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Malcolm » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:25 pm

Yes, heard it in Yeovil. Didn't think it was a sonic boom though - more like distant rumbling thunder, or next door dragging a wheelie bin down the drive.

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Ghost from above
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Ghost from above » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:28 pm

Don't think it was thunder had the distinctive pressure wave build with the pop, maybe a QRA.
Mac

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Malcolm
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Malcolm » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:32 pm

Nothing showing on PP (which they might not on a live Q shout). However no TANSOR out of Brize (yet). Could be the French I suppose.

Malcolm
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Malcolm » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:38 pm

Might just be a coincidence, but there are a couple of Coastguard choppers up, one near Chivenor and another near Exeter. There is also a RN Merlin (ZH834) showing as "REDCLAW" on a 1177 squawk, which I think is SAR related. And a RN Wildcat (ZZ523) as "SHEPHERD" on 3232.

Phanton F4
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Phanton F4 » Sat Mar 20, 2021 3:53 pm

Didn't sound like a sonic boom rumble went on for over a minute travelling South getting quieter.

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thevulcan
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by thevulcan » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:01 pm

Earthquake? Lots of tectonic activity around the world at the moment with volcanos in Iceland and earthquakes in Japan.
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Seacat192
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Seacat192 » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:14 pm

RAF spokesperson saying it wasn't any of their aircraft breaking the Sound Barrier.
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER - Somerset Wing

Malcolm
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Malcolm » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:18 pm

thevulcan wrote:
Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:01 pm
Earthquake? Lots of tectonic activity around the world at the moment with volcanos in Iceland and earthquakes in Japan.
If we'd heard it I'd have thought we'd have felt it too. The ground hasn't moved for me today. Still nothing suspicious on PP.

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Freeman Lowell
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Freeman Lowell » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:24 pm

Sounded more like an extended thunder clap when heard from Blandford, and appeared to track west from this location.
Freeman
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Dave Smith
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Dave Smith » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:28 pm

Meteorite coming down perhaps?

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Skymaster
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Skymaster » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:29 pm

Not the first one this week, apparently.

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/som ... ve-5208742

"Somerset resident ... said this wasn't the first loud noise she'd heard this week: "We live in Wincanton. We heard a massive explosion yesterday afternoon and it was heard as far as North Cheriton. Today at 2.55pm we heard a very long deep rumble and people are also reporting on Facebook that it was heard as for away as Portland and also Taunton."


Car alarms triggered, so presumably a shock wave of some sort.

Meteors, hypersonic drone, SR-72... ?

The plot thickens. :whistle:

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Fastwalker
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Fastwalker » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:49 pm

My money is on a meteor ,there was a large fireball reported 3 weeks ago over the UK. 300 grams made it through and landed on a driveway in Gloucestershire.

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Skymaster
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Skymaster » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:54 pm

RAF now saying that it was an F-35.

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/20 ... f-aircraft

A spokesperson from the Royal Air Force has now confirmed that it was a sonic boom caused by one of their jets.

The sonic boom heard in the Cornwall area today was caused by RAF F-35 Lightning aircraft completing operational training inside the supersonic offshore range area, any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.


Doesn't explain why it was heard in Epping and Brentwood, Essex, though.

However, I can't say that I heard anything while I was out for a walk, at that time.

One for the conspiracy theorists...

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Mike
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Mike » Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:59 pm

That article is from the 10th of February!

Malcolm
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Malcolm » Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:06 pm

Marham is NOTAM'ed closed today and tomorrow, and HMSQE only left Glen Mallan this lunchtime (and I haven't seen any F35's being reported aboard anyway). If MOD/RAF start saying it was an F-35 then we'll know they're up to something.

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Blackcat1
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Blackcat1 » Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:16 pm

I let out one hell of a sneeze earlier ! Maybe it was that 😂😂😂
Gareth

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Skymaster
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Skymaster » Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:30 pm

Mike wrote:
Sat Mar 20, 2021 4:59 pm
That article is from the 10th of February!
Oops, didn't spot the date on that one. :roll:

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Mike
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Mike » Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:38 pm

Skymaster wrote:
Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:30 pm
Oops, didn't spot the date on that one. :roll:
You should be able to read it a mile away with ye olde Hilkinson ! :lol:

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Skymaster
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Re: Sonic Boom South West

Post by Skymaster » Sat Mar 20, 2021 6:17 pm

Mike wrote:
Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:38 pm
Skymaster wrote:
Sat Mar 20, 2021 5:30 pm
Oops, didn't spot the date on that one. :roll:
You should be able to read it a mile away with ye olde Hilkinson ! :lol:
Well, the old Pancratic is about 50 years old now! :D

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