I was a kid before 1973 and grew up within 100 miles of a couple of air force bases. I heard sonic booms almost every day. We'd be out playing in the yard and hear a kaboom sound, look up and see the contrail of a fighter jet. (It was always too high to hear the engine.)
It was just a normal part of life. Everybody was used to it and I never heard anybody complain about it. I've been in thunderstorms that were much louder.
Granted these jets were very high. If they had been going Mach 1 close to the ground, people would have complained about broken windows.
And I'm not suggesting my experience was the norm. Just that in some cases sonic booms were a part of life that nobody really paid much attention to.
It was just a normal part of life. Everybody was used to it and I never heard anybody complain about it. I've been in thunderstorms that were much louder.
Granted these jets were very high. If they had been going Mach 1 close to the ground, people would have complained about broken windows.
And I'm not suggesting my experience was the norm. Just that in some cases sonic booms were a part of life that nobody really paid much attention to.