Sonic Boom - Measurement and Examples

Measurement and Examples

The pressure from sonic booms caused by aircraft often are a few pounds per square foot. A vehicle flying at greater altitude will generate lower pressures on the ground, because the shock wave reduces in intensity as it spreads out away from the vehicle, but the sonic booms are less affected by vehicle speed.

Aircraft speed altitude pressure (lbf/ft2) pressure (Pa)
SR-71 Mach 3 80,000 feet (24,000 m) 0.9 43
Concorde SST Mach 2 52,000 feet (16,000 m) 1.94 93
F-104 Mach 1.93 48,000 feet (15,000 m) 0.8 38
Space Shuttle Mach 1.5 60,000 feet (18,000 m) 1.25 60

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