SONIC BOOMS DENIED

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 2, Issue 20, 16 October 1984, Page 1

SONIC BOOMS DENIED

People in the Ruapehu region will no doubt be wondering why RNZAF spokesmen continue to deny that some aircraft participating in Triad ^4 over the central North Island have exceeded the speed of soun$ and broken the sound barrier. We on the ground have heard and felt the sonic booms on several occasions during the exercise and it is pointless to deny that they have happened. In trying to explain this phenomenon the official line is that these explosions are no more than normal highspeed jet noises with possibly after-burners being used. Such a claim is an insult to the intelligence of the people of this region who are used to high speed jets exercising over Waiouru and Mt Ruapehu. The explosive sonic booms we have experienced recently are quite different. Houses have been suddenly jolted as in a sharp earthquake, windows have rattled, fittings have fallen — all accompanied by the noise of a thunderclap. And often without even seeing or hearing the jets until they had passed. For the military authorities to try to convince us that what we have been hearing are not sonic booms is to question the integrity of all members of the local community who are quite capable of telling the difference between an explosive sonic boom and normal high-speed jet noises. Such futile denials inevitably bring into question the reliability of official news releases and statements. It would therefore be preferable for the authorities to acknowledge that some aircraft just might have broken the sound barrier over the central North Island during Triad ^4 despite the fact that pilots should have restricted their speeds to sub-sonic flights.