QUESTION about SONIC BOOMS????

Question

If a jet flies across the country at Mach speed. Does it make one single sonic boom when it hits Mach 1 or does it make a long boom that travels with the jet across the whole country?

If it makes only one boom, then why can't supersonics legally cross the USA if they hit mach at sea then cross the country post Mach1?

Answer 1

1) Yes it makes one single sonic boom.

2) They can cross the USA if they are supersonic provided they fly in the designated corridors (for sonic flights) and/or are above 60,000 feet. At a high level the effects of a sonic wave are minimal.

Caretaker has depicted this  spectacle beautifully.

Answer 2

The aircraft creates a trailing shock wave, like the bow wave of a ship, that travels along behind the aircraft continuously. This shock wave represents a pressure gradient and it dissipates over distance (if the aircraft is at high altitude, the shock is less severe). But if the aircraft were to fly supersonically near ground level, it could create some damage in its wake along its entire flight path.

Answer 3

As CFR 91.817 states no supersonic flight over the surface of the US unless the shock waves dont fall down and bust out people's windows.  The Concorde is the only jet that can do it and others with permission from Marion Blakey.  Two booms are heard.  The faster the airplane is flying the further apart they are heard.  I had the opportunity to compare two supersonic aircraft numerous times.

Answer 4

That's just it:  it doesn't make just one boom.

Answer 5

It does follow the aircraft.  I found this video while looking for one I've seen of a Blue Angel over water at MACH +. It'is probably the best you'll find to graphically answer your question, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d9A2oq1N...

I found the Blue Angel over San Francisco Bay.  Even though it's trailing a pressure wave, I'm not going to state he's super sonic. http://www.spike.com/video/blue-angel-bu...

It does follow the aircraft.  

This site, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7rAUu8dj... has three views of the low flyover and offers another claiming to be supersonic.  All demonstrate the following pressure wave.

Enjoy!!

Answer 6

The shock wave is like the wake of a ship.  It travels with the jet.   IF you're flying above FL600 that is unrestricted airspace, and one can fly supersonic for as long as one has the fuel (i.e.SR71).