You’ve probably seen a movie or TV show where the hero sets their ship to hyperdrive to escape a sticky interstellar situation. While we don’t have a hyperdrive yet, we do have aircraft fast enough to break through the sound barrier, creating a noise we call a sonic boom.
What Is a Sonic Boom?
According to NASA, a sonic boom is the thundering noise you hear when an aircraft flies above you faster than the speed of sound, also called supersonic.
When an aircraft reaches supersonic speed, the air around it acts like a fluid moving from the force of the craft. The bigger the craft, the more the air moves.
As that air moves, it forms a cone of pressurized air molecules that move in a cone shape extending out, behind and to the ground from the craft. The cone spreads along the ground toward the flight path as the craft moves, creating a continuous, thundering boom.
How Loud Is a Sonic Boom?
A sonic boom generates about 110 dB of sound. That’s roughly the same as the loudest volume on your phone played through headphones.
Do Commercial Flights Create a Sonic Boom?
No, commercial flights do not break the sound barrier. A 2022 assessment of in-cabin noise on aircraft found that two Airbus A321 commercial planes had continuous noise levels of 60–65 dB before takeoff, 80–85 dB during flight and 75–80 dB at landing. While airplanes are occasionally noisy, you’re generally not on them long enough to damage your hearing.
Most people are not close enough to supersonic aircraft to damage their hearing. However, if you attend Augusta air shows or live in an area where supersonic crafts take off, your hearing could be at risk.
How Do I Protect My Hearing?
If you’re going to attend an air show, bring disposable or silicone earplugs to protect your hearing when planes are taking off. If you work on an airfield, you should wear earmuffs around aircraft.
If you notice that voices sound muffled or have a ringing in your ears (tinnitus) after an airshow, contact Augusta – Aiken ENT & Allergy to schedule a hearing test today.