ImUrOBGYN Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Some other strange sonic boom phenomena press I've read about recently around the globe and the US. Read thru these and tell me something's not up. Notice how close many of these dates are. Coast explosion a mystery http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/02/06/46525_gold-coast-top-story.html Sonic booms have Islanders jumping http://www.marconews.com/news/2009/feb/05/sonic-booms-have-islanders-jumping/ This particular story seems to revolve around the a boom possibly caused by a meterorite explosion or the like. Tok residents abuzz over object in sky http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jan/02/tok-residents-abuzz-over-object-sky/ Large boom heard in Mt. Pleasant http://www.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/large_boom_heard_in_mt._pleasant/18580/ Loud boom still unexplained http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/more-boom-122308 Loud booms in Fort Smith area may be due to meteors http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=9326061 Early morning explosion 'like a sonic boom' - New Zealand http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=6893 There are many, many more. The reports from everywhere around the world about strange sonic booms since the end of last year is almost overwhelming. There has only been speculation and heresay on their origins, thus far. Something's going on. Military, cosmic, alien, nature, whatever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigbird Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Aurora...no, not the pretty lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Something's going on. Military, cosmic, alien, nature, whatever. I'd read some where that some astronomers claime we're floating through a bit of dirty space, making for more meteor activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Putty Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I'm scared Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I'm scared You have guns. Don't be skurred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewhop Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 You have guns. Don't be skurred. I am pretty sure that meteor>gun. (depending on size of both) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 (edited) I am pretty sure that meteor>gun. (depending on size of both) Was thinking along the same lines. You'd better bring an awfully fucking big gun. :bangbang: Edited February 11, 2009 by ImUrOBGYN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Some other strange sonic boom phenomena press I've read about recently around the globe and the US. Read thru these and tell me something's not up. Notice how close many of these dates are. Coast explosion a mystery http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2009/02/06/46525_gold-coast-top-story.html Sonic booms have Islanders jumping http://www.marconews.com/news/2009/feb/05/sonic-booms-have-islanders-jumping/ This particular story seems to revolve around the a boom possibly caused by a meterorite explosion or the like. Tok residents abuzz over object in sky http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jan/02/tok-residents-abuzz-over-object-sky/ Large boom heard in Mt. Pleasant http://www.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/large_boom_heard_in_mt._pleasant/18580/ Loud boom still unexplained http://www.thehawkeye.com/Story/more-boom-122308 Loud booms in Fort Smith area may be due to meteors http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=9326061 Early morning explosion 'like a sonic boom' - New Zealand http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=6893 There are many, many more. The reports from everywhere around the world about strange sonic booms since the end of last year is almost overwhelming. There has only been speculation and heresay on their origins, thus far. Something's going on. Military, cosmic, alien, nature, whatever. Wow. I'd say something's up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I am pretty sure that meteor>gun. (depending on size of both) Psssh, I'll use my Punt Gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miller Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 I thought I heard it @ midnight on the outside edge of westerville/sunbury. I dunno where I was exactly but definitely said "wtf" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supldys Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Too bad the sr-71 claim isn't true, thats my dream plane. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODoyle Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Too bad the sr-71 claim isn't true, thats my dream plane. The windows on the plane get so hot,the pilots can make grilled cheese on them. srsly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 The windows on the plane get so hot' date='the pilots can make grilled cheese on them. srsly[/quote'] The tolerances on the plane are so loose, that when the jet's on the ground, it leaks fuel. At Mach eleventy, the jet heats up, expands, and seals itself up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ODoyle Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 The tolerances on the plane are so loose, that when the jet's on the ground, it leaks fuel. At Mach eleventy, the jet heats up, expands, and seals itself up. I did a report on the SR-71 in HS for my JROTC officer's final.That plane is pure sex, I couldnt imagine it coming down to land with the engine covers white hot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 The tolerances on the plane are so loose, that when the jet's on the ground, it leaks fuel. JP-7 has such a high flashpoint that you "could" throw a lit match into a bucket of it, and it would put the match out. The Ramjets have no internat starters. Instead, they are started by a big-block on a "start cart"; it backs the tailshaft of the engine up to the Ramjet cone, couples with the engine main shaft, and revs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Subject: Test Pilot Bill Weaver: Mach 3.18 Break Up of an SR-71 Black Bird Among professional aviators, there's a well-worn saying: Flying is simply hours of boredom punctuated by moments of stark terror. But I don't recall too many periods of boredom during my 30-year career with Lockheed - most of which was spent as a test pilot.By far, the most memorable flight occurred on January 25, 1966 (SR-71A 64-17952)Jim Zwayer, Lockheed flight-test specialist, and I were evaluating systems on an SR-71 Blackbird test from Edwards. We also were investigating procedures designed to reduce trim drag and improve high-Mach cruise performance. The latter involved flying with the center-of-gravity (CG) located further aft than normal, reducing the Blackbird's longitudinal stability.We took off from Edwards at 11:20 a.m. and completed the mission's first leg without incident. After refueling from a KC-135 tanker, we turned eastbound, accelerated to a Mach 3.2-cruise speed and climbed to 78,000 ft., our initial cruise-climb altitude.Several minutes into cruise, the right engine inlet's automatic control system malfunctioned, requiring a switch to manual control. The SR-71's inlet configuration was automatically adjusted during supersonic flight to decelerate airflow in the duct, slowing it to subsonic speed before reaching the engine's face. This was accomplished by the inlet's center-body spike translating aft, and by modulating the inlet's forward bypass doors.Normally, these actions were scheduled automatically as a function of Mach number, positioning the normal shock wave ( where air flow becomes subsonic ) inside the inlet to ensure optimum engine performance. Without proper scheduling, disturbances inside the inlet could result in the shock wave being expelled forward - a phenomenon known as an "inlet unstart."That causes an instantaneous loss of engine thrust, explosive banging noises and violent yawing of the aircraft-like being in a train wreck. Unstarts were not uncommon at that time in the SR-71's development, but a properly functioning system would recapture the shock wave and restore normal operation.On the planned test profile, we entered a programmed 35-deg. bank turn to the right. An immediate unstart occurred on the right engine, forcing the aircraft to roll further right and start to pitch up. I jammed the control stick as far left and forward as it would go.No response. I instantly knew we were in for a wild ride.I attempted to tell Jim what was happening and to stay with the airplane until we reached a lower speed and altitude. I didn't think the chances of surviving an ejection at Mach 3.18 and 78,800 ft. were very good. However, g-forces built up so rapidly that my words came out garbled and unintelligible, as confirmed later by the cockpit voice recorder.The cumulative effects of system malfunctions, reduced longitudinal stability, increased angle-of-attack in the turn, supersonic speed, high altitude and other factors imposed forces on the airframe that exceeded flight control authority and the Stability Augmentation System's ability to restore control.Everything seemed to unfold in slow motion. I learned later the time from event onset to catastrophic departure from controlled flight was only 2-3 seconds. Still trying to communicate with Jim, I blacked out, succumbing to extremely high g-forces.Then the SR-71 . . literally . . disintegrated around us.From that point, I was just along for the ride. And my next recollection was a hazy thought that I was having a bad dream. Maybe I'll wake up and get out of this mess, I mused. Gradually regaining consciousness, realized this was no dream; it had really happened. That also was disturbing, because . . I COULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED . . what had just happened.I must be dead. Since I didn't feel bad - just a detached sense of euphoria - I decided being dead wasn't so bad after all. As full awareness took hold, I realized I was not dead. But somehow I had separated from the airplane.I had no idea how this could have happened; I hadn't initiated an ejection. The sound of rushing air and what sounded like straps flapping in the wind confirmed I was falling, but I couldn't see anything. My pressure suit's face plate had frozen over and I was staring at a layer of ice.The pressure suit was inflated, so I knew an emergency oxygen cylinder in the seat kit attached to my parachute harness was functioning. It not only supplied breathing oxygen, but also pressurized the suit, preventing my blood from boiling at extremely high altitudes. I didn't appreciate it at the time, but the suit's pressurization had also provided physical protection from intense buffeting and g-forces. That inflated suit had become my own escape capsule.My next concern was about stability and tumbling. Air density at high altitude is insufficient to resist a body's tumbling motions, and centrifugal forces high enough to cause physical injury could develop quickly. For that reason, the SR-71's parachute system was designed to automatically deploy a small-diameter stabilizing chute shortly after ejection and seat separation. Since I had not intentionally activated the ejection system-and assuming all automatic functions depended on a proper ejection sequence-it occurred to me the stabilizing chute may not have deployed.However, I quickly determined I was falling vertically and not tumbling. The little chute must have deployed and was doing its job. Next concern: the main parachute, which was designed to open automatically at 15,000 ft. Again I had no assurance the automatic-opening function would work.I couldn't ascertain my altitude because I still couldn't see through the iced-up faceplate. There was no way to know how long I had been blacked-out or how far I had fallen. I felt for the manual-activation D-ring on my chute harness, but with the suit inflated and my hands numbed by cold, I couldn't locate it. I decided I'd better open the faceplate, try to estimate my height above the ground, then locate that "D" ring.Just as I reached for the faceplate, I felt the reassuring sudden deceleration of main-chute deployment.I raised the frozen faceplate and discovered its uplatch was broken. Using one hand to hold that plate up, I saw I was descending through a clear, winter sky with unlimited visibility. I was greatly relieved to see Jim's parachute coming down about a quarter of a mile away. I didn't think either of us could have survived the aircraft's breakup, so seeing Jim had also escaped lifted my spirits incredibly.I could also see burning wreckage on the ground a few miles from where we would land. The terrain didn't look at all inviting-a desolate, high plateau dotted with patches of snow and no signs of habitation.I tried to rotate the parachute and look in other directions. But with one hand devoted to keeping the face plate up and both hands numb from high-altitude, subfreezing temperatures, I couldn't manipulate the risers enough to turn. Before the breakup, we'd started a turn in the New Mexico-Colorado-Oklahoma-Texas border region. The SR-71 had a turning radius of about 100 Miles at that speed and altitude, so I wasn't even sure what state we were going to land in. But, because it was about 3:00 p.m., I was certain we would be spending the night out here.At about 300 ft. above the ground, I yanked the seat kit's release handle and made sure it was still tied to me by a long lanyard. Releasing the heavy kit ensured I wouldn't land with it attached to my derriere, which could break a leg or cause other injuries. I then tried to recall what survival items were in that kit, as well as techniques I had been taught in survival training.Looking down, I was startled to see a fairly large animal-perhaps an antelope-directly under me. Evidently, it was just as startled as I was because it literally took off in a cloud of dust.My first-ever parachute landing was pretty smooth. I landed on fairly soft ground, managing to avoid rocks, cacti and antelopes. My chute was still billowing in the wind, though. I struggled to collapse it with one hand, holding the still-frozen faceplate up with the other." Can I help you ? " a voice said.Was I hearing things? I must be hallucinating. Then I looked up and saw a guy walking toward me, wearing a cowboy hat. A helicopter was idling a short distance behind him. If I had been at Edwards and told the search-and-rescue unit that I was going to bail out over the Rogers Dry Lake at a particular time of day, a crew couldn't have gotten to me as fast as that cowboy-pilot had.The gentleman was Albert Mitchell, Jr., owner of a huge cattle ranch in northeastern New Mexico. I had landed about 1.5 mi. from his ranch house-and from a hangar for his two-place Hughes helicopter. Amazed to see him, I replied I was having a little trouble with my chute. He walked over and collapsed the canopy, anchoring it with several rocks. He had seen Jim and me floating down and had radioed the New Mexico Highway Patrol, the Air Force and the nearest hospital.Extracting myself from the parachute harness, I discovered the source of those flapping-strap noises heard on the way down. My seat belt and shoulder harness were still draped around me, attached and latched. The lap belt had been shredded on each side of my hips, where the straps had fed through knurled adjustment rollers. The shoulder harness had shredded in a similar manner across my back. The ejection seat had never left the airplane; I had been ripped out of it by the extreme forces, seat belt and shoulder harness still fastened.I also noted that one of the two lines that supplied oxygen to my pressure suit had come loose, and the other was barely hanging on. If that second line had become detached at high altitude, the deflated pressure suit wouldn't have provided any protection. I knew an oxygen supply was critical for breathing and suit-pressurization, but didn't appreciate how much physical protection an inflated pressure suit could provide.That the suit could withstand forces sufficient to disintegrate an airplane and shred heavy nylon seat belts, yet leave me with only a few bruises and minor whiplash was impressive. I truly appreciated having my own little escape capsule.After helping me with the chute, Mitchell said he'd check on Jim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 He climbed into his helicopter, flew a short distance away and returned about 10 min. later with devastating news: Jim was dead. Apparently, he had suffered a broken neck during the aircraft's disintegration and was killed instantly.Mitchell said his ranch foreman would soon arrive to watch over Jim's body until the authorities arrived. I asked to see Jim and, after verifying there was nothing more that could be done, agreed to let Mitchell fly me to the Tucumcari hospital, about 60 mi. to the south.I have vivid memories of that helicopter flight, as well. I didn't know much about rotorcraft, but I knew a lot about "red lines," and Mitchell kept the airspeed at or above red line all the way. The little helicopter vibrated and shook a lot more than I thought it should have. I tried to reassure the cowboy-pilot I was feeling OK; there was no need to rush. But since he'd notified the hospital staff that we were inbound, he insisted we get there as soon as possible. I couldn't help but think how ironic it would be to have survived one disaster only to be done in by the helicopter that had come to my rescue.However, we made it to the hospital safely-and quickly. Soon, I was able to contact Lockheed's flight test office at Edwards. The test team there had been notified initially about the loss of radio and radar contact, then told the aircraft had been lost. They also knew what our flight conditions had been at the time, and assumed no one could have survived. I explained what had happened, describing in fairly accurate detail the flight conditions prior to breakup.The next day, our flight profile was duplicated on the SR-71 flight simulator at Beale AFB, Calif. The outcome was identical. Steps were immediately taken to prevent a recurrence of our accident. Testing at a CG aft of normal limits was discontinued, and trim-drag issues were subsequently resolved via aerodynamic means. The inlet control system was continuously improved and, with subsequent development of the Digital Automatic Flight and Inlet Control System, inlet unstarts became rare.Investigation of our accident revealed that the nose section of the aircraft had broken off aft of the rear cockpit and crashed about 10 mi. from the main wreckage. Parts were scattered over an area approximately 15 mi. long and 10 mi. wide. Extremely high air loads and g-forces, both positive and negative, had literally ripped Jim and me from the airplane. Unbelievably good luck is the only explanation for my escaping relatively unscathed from that disintegrating aircraft.Two weeks after the accident, I was back in an SR-71, flying the first sortie on a brand-new bird at Lockheed's Palmdale, Calif., assembly and test facility. It was my first flight since the accident, so a flight test engineer in the back seat was probably a little apprehensive about my state of mind and confidence.As we roared down the runway and lifted off, I heard an anxious voice over the intercom. " Bill ! Bill ! Are you there ?" " Yeah, George. What's the matter ?" " Thank God ! I thought you might have left. " The rear cockpit of the SR-71 has no forward visibility-only a small window on each side-and George couldn't see me. A big red light on the master-warning panel in the rear cockpit had illuminated just as we rotated, stating: " Pilot Ejected." Fortunately, the cause was a misadjusted micro switch, not my departure.Bill Weaver flight-tested all models of the Mach-2 F-104 Starfighter and the entire family of Mach 3+ Blackbirds-the A-12, YF-12 and SR-71. He subsequently was assigned to Lockheed's L-1011 project as an engineering test pilot, became the company's chief pilot. He later retired as Division Manager of Commercial Flying Operations.He still flies Orbital Sciences Corp.'s L-1011, which has been modified to carry the Pegasus satellite-launch vehicle. And as an FAA Designated Engineering Representative Flight Test Pilot, he's also involved in various aircraft-modification projects, conducting certification flight tests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinner Posted February 10, 2009 Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Aurora...no, not the pretty lights. Pulse engine FTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted February 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2009 Pulse engine FTW. You can see this cutting edge technology on display at aviation history museums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Science Abuse Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Texas: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/02/15/texas.sky.debris/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImUrOBGYN Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds like they're kinda blaming it on those two satellites hitting each other a few days back. Still doesn't begin to explain all the other sonic booms/incidents. I believe we're under attack from giant bugs like in Starship Troopers. They're shooting big ass meteorites at us. And I mean "ass" as in that's where they come from; they're ass. In case you didn't get that... Ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Browning Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 was heard out here as well. I was watching Seinfeld at the time so that was 11:00-11:30 http://smiliesftw.com/x/outlet.png Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRocket1647545505 Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Singapore fireball: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fYHJKWMAfU This one's creepy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.