Sonic Boom Rocks Metro Area
Noise Source Traced To Buckley Jets On Patrol
POSTED: 5:26 p.m. MDT October 1, 2003
UPDATED: 6:40 a.m. MDT October 2, 2003
DENVER -- Two F-16 jet aircraft from the 120th Fighter Squadron of the Colorado Air National Guard broke the sound barrier over the metro area Wednesday afternoon, creating a sonic boom that prompted dozens of worried phone calls to 911 operators from area residents.
Buckley Air Force Base said that the two jets were flying an "irregular air patrol" for North
American Aerospace Defense Command in support of Operation Noble Eagle when they both exceeded the speed of sound, causing the sonic boom.
It was loudest over Westminster and Broomfield, according to people contacting 7NEWS.
"I felt it and I heard a boom and the whole house shook and the
ground shook," said Velma Helker, who was in her Thornton home
when the sound exploded between 3:18 p.m. and 3:23 p.m.
Colorado Guard spokeswoman Capt. Holly Peterson said it is not normal procedure for Air National Guard
jets to break the sound barrier over a populated area. She said the pilots have given a report to operations personnel and their
commander.
Colorado Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Mike Edwards said that the pilots could face action ranging from additional
training to punishment.
"This was well into the mission. It just happened to be a mistake. This aircraft is a supersonic aircraft and if you're not careful you can exceed the speed of sound," said Edwards.
There are areas in the United States where jets are allowed to break the sound barrier, but Colorado does not have supersonic airspace.
Buckley Air Force Base said that the two jets were flying an "irregular air patrol" for North
American Aerospace Defense Command in support of Operation Noble Eagle when they both exceeded the speed of sound, causing the sonic boom.
It was loudest over Westminster and Broomfield, according to people contacting 7NEWS.
"I felt it and I heard a boom and the whole house shook and the
ground shook," said Velma Helker, who was in her Thornton home
when the sound exploded between 3:18 p.m. and 3:23 p.m.
Colorado Guard spokeswoman Capt. Holly Peterson said it is not normal procedure for Air National Guard
jets to break the sound barrier over a populated area. She said the pilots have given a report to operations personnel and their
commander.
Colorado Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Mike Edwards said that the pilots could face action ranging from additional
training to punishment.
"This was well into the mission. It just happened to be a mistake. This aircraft is a supersonic aircraft and if you're not careful you can exceed the speed of sound," said Edwards.
There are areas in the United States where jets are allowed to break the sound barrier, but Colorado does not have supersonic airspace.Copyright 2003 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
