Posted on 07/14/2005 1:00:09 AM PDT by DollarBill
We're under a supersonic corridor here in SE Tennessee. They've been testing the YF-22 over us for several years out of Dobbins AFB in Marietta, GA. Up until recently sonic booms were a three or four time a week event. I ususally grap the binoculars, run out and see if I can get a glimpse of it after the first boom. The chase plane sometimes provides us with a second boom. They always fly the same route, east to west. The YF-22 and it's chase plane are usually flying so high you can't see it even with binoculars, only the contrail.
About six months ago we had a huge sonic boom, much bigger than what we'd normally get from a YF-22. I grabbed the binoc's and ran outside to see an all white B-1 being followed by what appeared to be an all white T-38(NASA?). That boom knocked stuff off the walls of my hangar and sounded like a bomb going off in the building. My lab still hasn't come out from under the bed yet.......
It was Hagrid delivering "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince".
They most certainly do...much deeper and bassier than a Hornet. I got caught behind the JBD when a Tomcat was taking off in AB, and it was one of the most uncomfortable expericences I ever had.
When were you on the Indy?
90% of Illinois is flat! But, in all seriousness, it was very high up and was not crossing the horizon. It was if I were looking to the NW and it's flight path came directly from behind me, went directly over me and continued on past me, while slowly gaining altitude (now it sounds like I'm describing a UFO abduction!). In addition to the deep rumble which persisted throughout - no sonic boom - I could only see the flames as it continued on it's trajectory. Because of my angle of view, I could see slight deviations from the flightpath and the flames changing colors as it gained altitude (but, it was already very high, on a cloudless night).
Whew!!! This means you are not wearing tinfoil...this means the "thing" was taking off, therefore, one of ours. Right?
From my vantage point, it appeared to gain altitude. But, also it was moving away from me, so that could have been the reason for it getting smaller. But it did appear to be going up. In addition was the deep rumble that persisted and the flames. It was not a jet. Living 15 miles from O'Hare, I am pretty familiar with that kind of sound(s).
LOL. . .yup. . .loud.
Supersonic runs are usually confined above 30,000 feet where over populated areas, and if they are lower than that they are screwing up.
I saw one of those at night from about 10 miles away where there normally aren't military aircraft. I thought it was a rocket.
So Richard Simmons is a bolide?
97-01
Did you hear or read anything more about this today?
Thanks for asking Charles. I actually e-mailed NASA, SpaceFlightNow.com, and my local paper. The local news editor got back to me and said that he didn't know of anything being reported last night. NASA and the spaceflightnow didn't reply. Although, I did receive a private e-mail from a Freeper who said she watched a rocket launch last night around that time, but she wasn't sure if it was live or a replay of another nighttime launch. I have to tell you, I am really amazed that no one else reported this. My wife said today that she was surprised how loud and how long it lasted. She also said I looked like a nut springing out of bed and looking out the window. Then, after I came back inside from watching it, she heard me on the computer downstairs and knew I was on FreeRepublic (yet again). LOL!
Maybe it is one of our missile defense satellites. Too bad for China.
Hehehe... the late-night FReeping is usually the best.
Some cool stuff can be seen at these hours tho; last Fall I saw the northern lights over Chicago and they were stunning. Glad I got up to watch them.
Guess we'll have to chalk this one up in the "Unsolved Mysteries" column!
I think you're right about it being an unsolved mystery! But, I will continue to find out what the heck it was - and as soon as I do, I will post it on the thread (vindication!).
Hmmm. I'm in Chattanooga & must have missed that one. I did hear a normal Raptor boom today around 4:00 PM, though.
I'm over in the Sequatchie Valley, near Whitwell. We seem to be right under the corridor here, although I've not heard any sonic booms in a couple of months. When they happen and I'm in my hangar the roof seems to amplify the sound. It scares my Lab Myrtle to death. The shock wave of the one that appeared to be caused by a B-1 was so strong it slammed the back door the hanger shut.
I've been up in my glider several times and seen the contrails coming up from the south coming from the general direction of Dobbins AFB. They seem to fly the same pattern every time. Up from the south, then a hard left at about Crossville, then East to West over us and BOOM! One time last fall I was flying the ridge in my glider when a sonic boom occurred and I thought my airplane broke it was so loud.
I did hear a normal Raptor boom today around 4:00 PM, though.
I missed that one, but I was out on the mower cutting the runway at about that time. Probably didn't hear it over the noise of the tractor if it was over 'Nooga. Maybe they're altering their course thereby giving everybody a chance to experience it?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.