Unusual Sonic Boom Over Central Florida

10-31-01 | Ovrtaxt

[ovrtaxt]

Did anyone else hear a single, very loud, very defined sonic boom over the north Tampa Bay area today about 11:00 AM? There was nothing on the news about it this evening.

It wasn't the shuttle, there was no shuttle landing today, and the shuttle makes a series of 'softer' booms as it decelerates over Florida. This is unusual because the jets that fly from MacDill Airbase in South Tampa (central command headquarters) have to follow a flight path out into the Gulf of Mexico before going supersonic. There was no jet engine noise at all.

[blam]

"Maybe Aurora is getting spin 'round the block"

Yup. I was returning from it's four minute round trip to Afghanistan. lol.

[ovrtaxt]

okay, Im dumb. what's Aurora? besides the name of my landscape lighting business...

[Chapita]

bttt

[OwenKellogg]

Aurora -- allegedly the next "secret" airplane in the USAF inventory. In 1990 Aviation Week and Space Technology wrote an article laying out the evidence for its existence. Possibly a hypersonic reconnaisance plane. Its existence is still officially denied.

Remember the F-117 Stealth "Fighter" was operational with nearly 100 planes and 3 crashes to its record before the USAF ever acknowledged its existence.

[ovrtaxt]

Cool.

Did you see the article about 6 mos. ago in popular Mechanics about the alleged circular aircraft that was tested in bygone days?(70s and 80s I think...) There was a fair amount of evidence as I recall.

[VA Voter]

Probably just a throttle jockey feeling frisky. Cut him some slack.

[carenot]

"It was our boys, thats all that matters."

I remember in 1943 0r '44, a sky full of planes flying over. It was at night and it seemed they would never end.

My Grampa said" That's our boys!"

[gonzo]

"...Hypersonic Beads on a string I betcha!..."

ovrtaxt, it's not gross! (how'd you learn about beads-on-a-string, anyway?)

'Hypersonic Beads on a string' is the visible atmospheric con-trail of the Aurora, and has nothing to do with what you do with beads!

Now tell Dave you're sorry, and go to church!....FRegards

Actually, I like the beads, but I stick 'em up my nose...

[ovrtaxt]

I was in the 'Hillary's butt cheeks' mode of thinking at the time. Sorry for the mixup, and thanks for the clarification.

That must sound pretty weird coming from me if you've read any of my Christian extremist preaching rants. But I wasn't always a disciple....

[piasa]

Heard it and I'm within 20 mi of you... quite loud but not much different from what was usual for us up in the Ozarks when the AF was running the old blackbirds (multiple booms) over and later when Mac was testing the prototypes for the F-15 and 18. Heard the booms all the time and have missed them since, except when the shuttle goes over down her in FL.

'The sound of freedom.'

[KneelBeforeZod]

"Reno's campaign imploding"

that deserves a bump

[ovrtaxt]

Absolutely! It was unusual enough to me and the other locals, though. We all stared at each other for a second and said, "I wonder what's going on up there." It was a lood one!

[hawkk]

Don't know what it was either, but myself and a few others I talked to heard it, and I'm in Pensacola.

[piasa]

Somebody was having fuuuun.

There was a lot of helicopter activity yesterday too. Civilian and coast guard. We normally get a lot but yesterday they were really making up for lost flight hours.

[piasa]

Maybe the Blue Angels were back in town up your way.

[ovrtaxt]

see post #38.

[hawkk]

LOL they are here, and although they sound great when they go by my window, it's nothing like what I heard yesterday. Unless of course some of them were having some fun?? :)

[bwteim]

it was Janet Reno's campaign imploding

LOL and a bump!

[rokkhound]

A little over a year ago I lived in Kitty Hawk, NC. There was a boom (or rather, three to be exact) that scared me quite badly. This boom was heard in a 100 mile radius and no explanation for it ever came forth. Lots said it was a sonic boom, but it was not. I know what they sound like. I'm telling you, this was no ordinary noise.....it was incredibly LOUD and shook doors and windows... I'm still wondering what that was and would like someone to explain how a boom that's heard for 100 miles could come from a plane, followed by two more. There was a write up in the local paper about it. If anyone can shed some light on this, please do!

[Hatteras]

I saw a "beads on a string" (actually, it kinda looked like donuts on a rope) contrail about a week ago over Durham/RTP, NC heading east to west... hmmmm?