PEOPLE in and around Norwich have reported hearing a sonic boom causing windows in their houses to shake.
The huge bang, caused by an RAF Hawk aircraft completing a high speed dive as part of an air test schedule, could be heard from miles away.
One person wrote on Twitter this afternoon: “Was there a sonic boom over Norwich? Huge bang just now. #sonicboom”
Another said: “Literally felt the pressure change inside the house as the double glazing bounced in the window and door frames.”
A third wrote: “Just outside of Norwich and we heard and felt a boom which made the windows shake.”
While another said: “Presumed sonic boom (sudden massive noise) has just sent c500 woodpigeons into the air above our house!
“Same observed by friends nearby in Norwich too. And further afield? Mad!”
Locals have been scrambling for answers after hearing the boom: “Massive boom felt and heard in Hellesdon, Norwich. Birds flew off in a mad panic. Anyone know what happened?”
One person said that they caught the sound of the “large explosion” and “sonic boom” on camera – adding that the “whole house shook.”
The RAF spokesperson told The Sun Online: ‘The sonic boom heard in East Anglia was inadvertently caused by a RAF Hawk aircraft completing a high speed dive as part of an air test schedule.
“Any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.”
To break the sound barrier, aircrafts need to hit a speed of 770mph – and the RAF Hawk’s maximum speed when diving is 920mph.
This means that the aircraft causing the sonic boom today was nearly travelling at its top speed.
A sonic boom is heard when an object travels through the air faster than the speed of sound.
This comes after millions of people living between Cambridge and London heard a “sonic boom” earlier this month after two RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled.
Social media users said their houses were “shaking” due to a noise like “slamming doors” on January 12.
It happened after two Typhoons based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire took off just before 1.20pm, hitting speeds in excess of 700mph.
Some flight-tracking websites suggested the pair hit speeds of 1,100mph while flying at an altitude of 39,000ft.
Following the incident earlier this month, an RAF spokesperson said: “The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this afternoon from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft that had lost communications; subsequently, communications were re-established, the aircraft was intercepted and safely escorted to Stansted.
“The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons.”
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