Sonic Boom Over York UK at 10pm 2/5/2016

A boom has just been heard over York (UK) at 10:00 pm on 2/May (bank holiday) and is being described as a sonic boom by the local radio station with windows rattling and people in my street coming out of the house wondering what it is. Twitter report suggest Selby and Leeds (a large conurbation) also heard the sonic boom. This is very unusual, never heard the sonic boom before and strongly suggests that these aircraft were in a hurry on an intercept

ATS has a strong Yorkshire contingent, anyone else help put together the flight path based on the boom trail?. Also for the experts on the site, would the RAF really do an exercise which would cause sonic booms at 10:00 at night? One final note, the houses that were most impacted faced West.

a reply to: templar knight
Yes. Flying at supersonic speed would indicate haste.

Also for the experts on the site, would the RAF really do an exercise which would cause sonic booms at 10:00 at night?

It is not inconceivable that a jet would inadvertently exceed the speed of sound. If that's the case the pilot is in hot water.

But a sonic boom can affect areas quite far from the aircraft.

a reply to: templar knight

Was there airplane noise with the sonic boom, or is that just guessing, could be a meteor.

I believe it's not allowed for aircraft to break the sound barrier over land as it can cause damage to buildings.

a reply to: Mianeye

It didn't have to be over land. The shock wave which causes the boom travels along with the aircraft, extending both vertically and horizontally from it.
buphy.bu.edu...

Jets just flew over us at the coast in Northumberland about 10 mins ago. Not sure how many there were but more than 1 for sure. A lot of noise but no sonic boom.

www.itv.com...

And here is the cause

a reply to: digoots

Hey,

First post on here...joined because I also heard the sonic boom, but unable to create a new thread.

More info found here: twitter.com...

Basically, RAF conducting a QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) to escort a civilian aircraft to Newcastle airport after it went off course.

Negate

Sonic booms heard across Yorkshire

Two loud bangs heard across Yorkshire are being blamed on sonic booms. It was caused after an RAF Typhoon fighter jet was caused to deal with an 'unresponsive civilian aircraft'

Source ITV News

a reply to: Phage

I know, but aircraft's has to be a certain distance/height from land or civilization to go super sonic.

Those are the rules where i live, because in the 80 there were many complains of cracks in buildings and broken windows from homeowners near travel routes/training areas of jet fighters going super sonic.

Edit :I see above it might be solved.

a reply to: Mianeye

Indeed. And good rules they are.

a reply to: Phage

Btw, i have heard and seen sonic booms a plenty as a sailor, we are often target practice with a nice boom to follow.

The damn showoff almost busted our ears, and the shock to the chest is real

a reply to: Mianeye

Not alert aircraft. They try not to go supersonic, but if they have to they will. They're also exempt from low altitude limits. I used to occasionally see them take off from Honolulu, turn left and go right over buildings below the level of the top of some of them as they were climbing.

a reply to: Mianeye

I've only experienced it once, and the source was apparently quite distant. But it sure was distinctive.

a reply to: Mianeye

When they did sonic boom testing in the 70s with the Concorde, secondary effects of the boom were detected several thousand miles away by detection equipment. The Soviets had similar results with their SST.

shook my house to bits im in leeds england i thought two bombs had gone off

Was very loud near us and social media showed they were heard across a wide expanse of Yorkshire , first boom I thought someone was attacking my house, grabbed a cricket bat (it is Yorkshire) and went outside, heard the 2nd one then a feared the worst that something bad had happened in Leeds.

a reply to: templar knight

Yes I'm in Doncaster and the bang was really clear here, same scenario with everyone out on the streets.

Don't know how accurate this info is but I have heard Russian jets had entered UK airspace, which isn't uncommon. Gave us all a fright.

originally posted by: theruthlessone
shook my house to bits im in leeds england i thought two bombs had gone off

2 bombs, York, Selby and Leeds....put them both on Leeds please RAF!

a reply to: jamespond

They actually don't enter UK airspace. They enter the ADIZ, which is different from UK airspace. It's a positive control point where aircraft have to be in contact with ATC and have a set transponder before they actually get to national airspace.

heard here in Newcastle ....didnt sound like a sonic boom...more like a deep rumble for 3 seconds ..