When The A-10 Fires Its Gun, We Hear Two Sounds #a10 #a10thunderbolt #a10warthog

Ever wondered why you hear two distinct sounds when the A-10 Warthog fires its gun? The A-10 Warthog, known for its distinctive ’BRRRT’ sound, fires its 30mm GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon at a staggering speed of almost 2400 MPH. This is over three times the speed of sound, which travels at about 761 MPH. When the A-10 fires, the first sound you hear is the impact of the rounds hitting the target. This is because the rounds are supersonic, traveling faster than the speed of sound. The light from the impact reaches your eyes almost instantaneously, and the sound of the impact reaches your ears shortly after due to the high speed of the rounds. The second sound you hear is the firing of the gun itself. This sound travels at the speed of sound from the aircraft to your ears. Because the rounds are so much faster, you hear the impact before you hear the gun firing. So, the two sounds are the result of the rounds being supersonic and the delay in the sound of the gun firing reaching your ears. Isn’t that fascinating?