Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Tristan Cork

Eurofighter Typhoons break sound barrier in sonic boom over Bristol Channel

Two RAF jets broke the sound barrier over the West Country as they were scrambled from their base in the east of England today.

The Eurofighter Typhoons were taking part in a Quick Reaction Alert intercept exercise which saw them race from their base at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and speed across the Midlands, flying over Coventry and Worcester at close to the speed of sound.

The two jets then charted a course around Cardiff and headed for Devon, where they were tasked with intercepting another RAF plane, an Airbus refuelling jet.

Read more: Brunel's paddlesteamer the Great Western to be rebuilt in £20m tourism project for Bristol

The two Eurofighters touched the speed of sound across the Bristol Channel as they flew from South Wales to North Devon, sending a sonic boom into the atmosphere.

They reached speeds of 590 knots at an altitude of 40,000ft - Mach 1 is achieved at that height when exceeding speeds of around 573 knots.

The two planes then staged a training exercise with other RAF planes and others from the French Airforce over Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor and the Truro area of Cornwall.

The RAF has a squadron of Eurofighter Typhoons on standby at locations in England and Scotland, and regularly practices QRA intercepts - Quick Reaction Alerts - as well as being scrambled to intercept an increasing number of Russian military planes that approach UK airspace.

Follow the latest updates on this story and others like it here

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.