When an aircraft breaks the sound barrier (sonic boom) it is a very noisy event, akin to a shotgun blast or even a small cannon. To anyone near an overflying aircraft that breaks the sound barrier, this event can be shocking or even scary, particularly if they do not expect to hear it. While a sonic boom can rattle the nerves, generally speaking they are not dangerous and should not be a cause of concern.
The sonic boom phenomenon explained A “sonic boom” occurs when an object, (most often fighter aircraft, but lately SpaceX rocket landings) exceeds the speed of sound, which is approximately 750 miles per hour at sea level. Additionally, supersonic flight is generally conducted at above 30,000 ft. Mean Sea Level.
The aircraft's maiden flight is now penciled in for early 2025. An aircraft traveling through the atmosphere continuously produces air-pressure waves. A good visualization would be the waves caused by a ships bow cutting through the water - when an aircraft exceeds the speed of sound, these pressure waves combine and form shock waves.
The “sonic boom” heard on the ground, is the sudden onset and release of pressure following the buildup by the shock waves. The change in pressure caused by a sonic boom is only a few pounds per square foot, similar to the pressure change experienced when an elevator descends a few floors in a building. According to the Air Force : “ The strongest sonic boom ever recorded was 144 pounds per square foot and it did not cause inj.
