Sonic boom frightens Salzgitter: Bundeswehr Tornado jet in action!

Sonic boom frightens Salzgitter: Bundeswehr Tornado jet in action!

Last week, a loud bang in Salzgitter caused excitement among residents. On October 27th, between 2:17 p.m. and 2:20 p.m., a Bundeswehr Tornado fighter plane broke the sound barrier while flying over from Schleswig to Ingolstadt. This supersonic flight was not only an impressive example of military training, but also led to delayed reports from various parts of the city and the surrounding district, such as Fredenberg, Bruchmachtersen and Salzgitter-Bad. Citizens reported vibrating windows and shaking doors as well as frightened pets. Many residents first thought of Salzgitter AG as the culprit, but such rumors were quickly dispelled as news38.de uncovered the true cause.

The tornado reached impressive speeds of up to 725 knots, which is approximately 1,343 km/h, and flew at an altitude of over 11,000 meters. Such supersonic flights are justified by the need to test the functionality of engines and other important aircraft systems. But what exactly happens during a supersonic flight? When the sound barrier is broken, a sonic boom occurs, which is caused by pressure waves. These waves propagate in the form of cones that can be up to 80 kilometers wide.

Background to supersonic flights

Supersonic flight means that an aircraft flies faster than the speed of sound, which is approximately 343 meters per second. The Bundeswehr and the Air Force emphasize how important such exercises are for operational readiness in an emergency. The background to these measures is not only safety policy considerations, but also practical aspects of engine and aircraft system tests. According to 24rhein.de, the frequency of such sonic booms has not increased significantly, rather the exercises have been carried out more often over land, which means that more people perceive such noises.

The Bundeswehr is aware of the burden on the population, but sees military activities as a priority. Similar incidents have already taken place in other regions of Germany, for example on August 8, 2023 over Karlsruhe and in recent months in North Rhine-Westphalia. These training flights are necessary not only to ensure military readiness, but also to give aircraft pilots the opportunity to train in dealing with demanding situations.

Although supersonic flights often involve high fuel consumption and are considered economically unattractive in the civilian sector, the necessity of such military exercises remains undisputed. It is an interesting but also controversial topic that affects not only technology but also the perception of the civilian population.

Wikipedia further explains that during supersonic flight, the drop in pressure under the sound speed waves leads to the formation of shock waves, which are perceived as bangs. Especially with larger aircraft, a so-called double bang can occur, which spreads the sound waves over a larger area.