Mid-channel Sonic Boom?

[HappyHunter]

Several weeks ago, mid channel late morning I was surprised (underexaggeration) to hear what sounded two like two load explosions in short succession. First thought was that we'd hit something, then naval exercises, but there was absolutely nothing visible on the horizon through 360 degrees. Final though was that it may have been concorde going supersonic, but does that have a double bang?

Anyone had a similar experience?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Yes - it was threaded about a month or so back. See http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/new/foru...ber=228186&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post228186

 

[bigmart]

The answer to your questions is Yes & yes.

Concorde does have a double bang & yes I have heard it too, in the middle of the Channel, although I must confess not for a number of years.

I don't get out much these days.

Martin

 

[tome]

The Concorde double-boom is well documented and I've experienced it many times. One boom comes from the leading edge and the other from the trailing edge. It's very loud and sounds like an artillery piece going off next to you. See previous threads.

 

[Guest]

Yup, have heard it too. Thought it was artillery, but could hear the faint jet noise afterwards - confrimed it to us as a sonic boom. It was pretty early in the morning too, and it woke the last watch up.

N

 

[bob_tyler]

Unlikely to be Concorde, either BA or AF that early in the morning. Possibly a Service aircraft on an exercise?

 

[Guest]

True - "typical" Concorde is c. 1100 UK time. But never around when the sky is clear (Saturday of Jubilee weekend), only when it's overcast so you can't see it (Monday of Jubilee weekend)!

 

[cgull]

That was me

Perhaps one should try flying on Concord and see if you can see the yachts?

 

[Mike_02]

I had a great view of it a while ago. The day of the crash in paris. I heard the Boom as usual 10:45 on the dot as usual and after the boom you can hear the engines and if you look up at to the west you can just see it if the sky is clear.

It was a bit of a sobering thought when the paris crash happened later that day..!!

 

[Guest]

Yep... experienced it like everyone else. Commonly it's when you're doing a daylight crossing from Cherbourg back to the Solent, shortly before 11:00am mid channel, the Paris-> New York 10:30 flight.

I also had the privelidge of seeing Concorde flying along in the totality during the eclipse... we'd checked the satellite images and sailed from Chichester to about 25Nm off Le Havre to get out from under the cloud that was covering the central channel. A fantastic experience and not another boat in sight...

Where were you all?

Mike

 

[johndf]

We used to get the double boom from the New York to Paris flight every day here in Jersey around 4pm, but I've not heard it lately due presumably to a different schedule once they restarted the flights. It is easily visible to the naked eye, so I'm puzzled why you don't see it in mid-channel when you hear it, unless you only sail on cloudy days.

 

[oldharry]

Heard the same double boom, and a grandstand view of Concorde making her descent on approach to Heathrow late afternoon (4 ish?) at Bude a couple of weeks ago.

SWMBO now wants to go for a ride on it....

Oh, b.... there goes the cash for the new sails I need!


Whats Concorde got to do with sailing anyway? Simple - they both cost an arm and a leg.