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Eight sonic booms over Wales in five years | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Windows broke, a greenhouse was damaged and a supermarket closed after ceiling tiles fell following a sonic boom from a fighter jet. | Windows broke, a greenhouse was damaged and a supermarket closed after ceiling tiles fell following a sonic boom from a fighter jet. |
Nearly half the booms recorded in the UK in the last five years were above Wales with the most dramatic making a "hellish noise" over Aberystwyth. | Nearly half the booms recorded in the UK in the last five years were above Wales with the most dramatic making a "hellish noise" over Aberystwyth. |
Ministry of Defence (MoD) data lists 17 incidents across the UK between May 2009 and June 2014. | Ministry of Defence (MoD) data lists 17 incidents across the UK between May 2009 and June 2014. |
Eight were over Ceredigion, Powys or Anglesey. | Eight were over Ceredigion, Powys or Anglesey. |
A sonic boom is created as an aircraft breaks the sound barrier. | A sonic boom is created as an aircraft breaks the sound barrier. |
The boom is a shockwave caused when an aircraft accelerates through the speed of sound (761 mph/1,225 kmh at sea level and an air temp of 15C). | The boom is a shockwave caused when an aircraft accelerates through the speed of sound (761 mph/1,225 kmh at sea level and an air temp of 15C). |
It can be destructive when it reaches the ground, causing damage to buildings. | It can be destructive when it reaches the ground, causing damage to buildings. |
Following the retirement of Concorde in 2003, only some military fast jets and missiles are capable of supersonic flight. | Following the retirement of Concorde in 2003, only some military fast jets and missiles are capable of supersonic flight. |
The figures released by the MoD as a result of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request included the incident in Aberystwyth in March. | The figures released by the MoD as a result of a Freedom of Information (FoI) request included the incident in Aberystwyth in March. |
The US Air Force (USAF) later apologised, admitting that an F-15E Eagle fighter aircraft had been training near the coast when a pilot inadvertently broke the sound barrier. | The US Air Force (USAF) later apologised, admitting that an F-15E Eagle fighter aircraft had been training near the coast when a pilot inadvertently broke the sound barrier. |
A Morrisons supermarket closed temporarily when ceiling tiles fell. The FoI data also lists claims for broken windows and a damaged greenhouse. | A Morrisons supermarket closed temporarily when ceiling tiles fell. The FoI data also lists claims for broken windows and a damaged greenhouse. |
'An extremely loud bang' - Ceredig Davies, Aberystwyth councillor and shop owner | 'An extremely loud bang' - Ceredig Davies, Aberystwyth councillor and shop owner |
"It felt like something hitting you in the chest. It was a strange experience. I was walking out of my shop at the time and after the noise - an extremely loud bang - came this rush of air, hitting me in the chest. I thought it must be a plane, I'd heard them in the past but not like that. | "It felt like something hitting you in the chest. It was a strange experience. I was walking out of my shop at the time and after the noise - an extremely loud bang - came this rush of air, hitting me in the chest. I thought it must be a plane, I'd heard them in the past but not like that. |
"We obviously have no say where the military fly for their exercises but perhaps they should be careful where they put the pedal down. | "We obviously have no say where the military fly for their exercises but perhaps they should be careful where they put the pedal down. |
"Perhaps the pilot didn't really know where he was on this occasion but they should try to avoid built up areas." | "Perhaps the pilot didn't really know where he was on this occasion but they should try to avoid built up areas." |
Other booms listed include two over Llangeitho, Ceredigion - in April and December 2012. | Other booms listed include two over Llangeitho, Ceredigion - in April and December 2012. |
Military Low Flying Area 7 (LFA7) covers a large area of Wales and is used by the RAF and other air forces, particularly the USAF. | Military Low Flying Area 7 (LFA7) covers a large area of Wales and is used by the RAF and other air forces, particularly the USAF. |
The MoD has received 15 claims for compensation as a result of sonic booms in the last five years and had paid out £1.8m. | The MoD has received 15 claims for compensation as a result of sonic booms in the last five years and had paid out £1.8m. |
The RAF said supersonic training was prohibited overland in the UK for both RAF and USAF fast jet crews. | The RAF said supersonic training was prohibited overland in the UK for both RAF and USAF fast jet crews. |
For most incidents where supersonic booms were heard, they were either sound travelling from aircraft training over the sea, or RAF Quick Reaction Alert aircraft responding to intercept unidentified aircraft. | For most incidents where supersonic booms were heard, they were either sound travelling from aircraft training over the sea, or RAF Quick Reaction Alert aircraft responding to intercept unidentified aircraft. |
"It is very rare for accidental supersonic flight during operational training overland and we apologise for any inconvenience caused when this happens," said a spokesman. | "It is very rare for accidental supersonic flight during operational training overland and we apologise for any inconvenience caused when this happens," said a spokesman. |