On Monday afternoon, if you happen to hear loud sonic booms in the southeastern part of Michigan or Ohio, there is no need to panic.
The Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing posted on Facebook on Monday that they would be conducting operational flying checks between 1:30 and 3:30 pm local time.
A sonic boom is a huge explosive noise produced when an aircraft flies faster than the speed of sound, creating a shockwave resulting in a sonic boom.
The 180th Fighter Wing mentioned that although the actual flights will take place in Bowling Green and Toledo areas of Ohio, residents in the northwest part of Ohio and the southeastern part of Michigan might hear the sonic booms once the aircraft reaches supersonic speeds.
“After extensive maintenance on the aircraft, functional check flights are conducted to rigorously test and operate all systems, ensuring the aircraft is ready for missions before being returned to service,” stated the 180th Fighter Wing’s post.
The unit added that such flights typically occur at altitudes above 30,000 feet, but residents in the area could still hear the sonic booms.
The 180th Fighter Wing is Ohio’s sole fighter unit, piloting the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Fifty years after its first test flight, the F-16 Fighting Falcon remains a key asset in the U.S. Air Force and is one of the most popular fighter jets globally. With 4,500 units sold and 3,100 still in operation across 25 countries and regions from Norway to Taiwan, the U.S. Air Force had over 800 F-16s in service in 2023.
Designed as a compact, lightweight, and highly agile dogfighting aircraft, the F-16 has taken on various roles, from ground attacks to anti-ship missions, reconnaissance, and intercepting ground-to-air missile launchers. Since 2015, it has been the world’s most numerous military fixed-wing aircraft.