F-18 breaks the sound barrier.

[PFactorDave]

I never seen it in the FAR, and if any place will have it it should defiantly be the FAR. I'll do some more searching for it online, might find something. Might have more luck.

It may not be a FAR.  The FARs are regulations, not laws.  Somewhat different.  There may actually be a law prohibiting it, rather then a regulation.

[SAJ73]

I remember back in some time around 87-89 in Norway, there was a plane going supersonic. Illegaly I might add, because it was all over the news and nobody knew what it was.. It might very well be one of your US planes for all I know, or some russian.. Or just one crazy Norwegian pilot kicking it off in his F16 or whatever they had back then..
Anyway, that boom was heard over half of Norway. Guess Norway is small, but also I believe the boom travelled with that aircraft over some distance?! It sounded like a ton of TNT went off in one of the surrounding hills, or like thunder right above the house.. It was really loud!

So if THAT was a sonic boom, that's what they said on the news anyway.. Then this flight on the beach is merely a fart in the wind..  

[MachFly]

Found it:

§ 91.817 — Civil aircraft sonic boom.
(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 except in compliance with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued to the operator under appendix B of this part.

(b) In addition, no person may operate a civil aircraft for which the maximum operating limit speed MM0exceeds a Mach number of 1, to or from an airport in the United States, unless—

(1) Information available to the flight crew includes flight limitations that ensure that flights entering or leaving the United States will not cause a sonic boom to reach the surface within the United States; and

(2) The operator complies with the flight limitations prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section or complies with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued under appendix B of this part.


Anyone know where I'd find something like this for military aircraft?

[MiloMorai]

Ottawa International Airport

The terminal building was originally scheduled to open in 1959, but during practices for the opening ceremonies, a United States Air Force F-104 Starfighter accidentally went supersonic during a low pass over the airport, and the resultant sonic boom shattered most of the glass in the airport (including the entire north wall) and damaged ceiling tiles, door and window frames, and even structural beams. As a result, the opening was delayed until April 1960.

I remember that day in Ottawa. I was ~3.5mi from the terminal and thought a bomb had gone off.

[Dragon]

Back in the early 80's, 2 jets left Hopkins Intl Airport. 1 of the planes stayed low but the 2nd one went vertical directly above us.  It went supersonic about 15 seconds later.  I'm not sure what his altitude would have been by then, but the boom was heard throughout northern Ohio.

[bcadoo]

Found it:

§ 91.817 — Civil aircraft sonic boom.
(a) No person may operate a civil aircraft in the United States at a true flight Mach number greater than 1 except in compliance with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued to the operator under appendix B of this part.

(b) In addition, no person may operate a civil aircraft for which the maximum operating limit speed MM0exceeds a Mach number of 1, to or from an airport in the United States, unless—

(1) Information available to the flight crew includes flight limitations that ensure that flights entering or leaving the United States will not cause a sonic boom to reach the surface within the United States; and

(2) The operator complies with the flight limitations prescribed in paragraph (b)(1) of this section or complies with conditions and limitations in an authorization to exceed Mach 1 issued under appendix B of this part.


Anyone know where I'd find something like this for military aircraft?

In Plain English:

§ 91.817 — Civil aircraft sonic boom.
(a)You can't fly supersonic EXCEPT (b)(1) Sonic boom can't reach ground OR (2) you get permission to go supersonic.

So under that reasoning....he could have gone supersonic....if he had obtained authorization first.

[RTR]

I'm pretty sure you would not get permission to go supersonic for an airshow. There would have to be some kind military requirement pressing to circumvent the regs. You would need access to the appropriate military regs for state aircraft operation in civil airspace.

At any rate, believe what you wish, It really makes no difference to me.

cheers,
RTR

[rogwar]

This may not be exactly current but is likely pretty close...

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/planes/q0060b.shtml


And this is flying faster than Mach 1...a lot different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5oomvIxE3I&feature=player_embedded

[tmetal]

A video of the concord breaking the sound barrier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annkM6z1-FE&feature=related

If the boom was that loud on the ground when the plane was high enough to be leaving visable water vapor trails, there is no way that f18 was breaking the sound barrier and the boom be that quiet. BTW the concord video looks to be filmed with a hand held camera that was probably older and not as advanced as the camera for the f18 vid, when you consider how long the concords have not been flying.

[MiloMorai]

And this is flying faster than Mach 1...a lot different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5oomvIxE3I&feature=player_embedded

Engine exhaust noise is not breaking the sound barrier.

[Babalonian]

Close to the barrier but not breaking it.

Yup.  But by all means head to an air show sometime nearby that features a Super Hornet or Strike Eagle demonstrations and experience the same near-sonic demonstrations for yourself sometime.

[Babalonian]

BTW since were on topic:

(Image removed from quote.)

Best demontivational poster - ever!

[saggs]

A video of the concord breaking the sound barrier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=annkM6z1-FE&feature=related

If the boom was that loud on the ground when the plane was high enough to be leaving visable water vapor trails, there is no way that f18 was breaking the sound barrier and the boom be that quiet. BTW the concord video looks to be filmed with a hand held camera that was probably older and not as advanced as the camera for the f18 vid, when you consider how long the concords have not been flying.

I agree that F-18 was not supersonic.  But remember that a boom from an F-18 at the altitude of that Concorde would not be nearly as loud.

Smaller plane = smaller shock waves = smaller boom boom.  

Growing up I used to hear booms from F-16s out of Hill AFB heading to the west desert bomb range quite often, used to rattle the windows and shake pictures on the wall but caused no damage that I know of.  Haven't heard one for probably 15 years though, I think about then they started cracking down on the behavior.  Never bothered me though, I thought it was pretty cool.

[PFactorDave]

Ottawa International Airport

The terminal building was originally scheduled to open in 1959, but during practices for the opening ceremonies, a United States Air Force F-104 Starfighter accidentally went supersonic during a low pass over the airport, and the resultant sonic boom shattered most of the glass in the airport (including the entire north wall) and damaged ceiling tiles, door and window frames, and even structural beams. As a result, the opening was delayed until April 1960.

I remember that day in Ottawa. I was ~3.5mi from the terminal and thought a bomb had gone off.

 

I've known and been friends with a lot of military pilots in my lifetime...  And I'm pretty darn sure that just about all of them would light the afterburners and go supersonic if they thought they could get away with it...

Accidentally!  

[rogwar]

Engine exhaust noise is not breaking the sound barrier.

Of course not.

But that particular video is of an F18 flying faster than the speed of sound way out in the ocean somewhere. Here is one of an F14 probably shot on a tiger cruise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Igy_MYJpVcQ&feature=related