Brace yourself for the booms: Supersonic flights return to Lorca skies
Residents warned of possible noise as Tactical Leadership Programme runs supersonic exercises from November 17 to 27
If you live in or near Murcia, southern Alicante and eastern Almería, you might want to keep your windows shut next week because the bangs are back!The Spanish Air and Space Force has confirmed that another round of supersonic training flights will take place between Monday November 17 and Thursday November 27, and locals are likely to hear the odd boom or two during the exercises.
The flights, part of the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP), will run daily from 3.30pm to 5.30pm, excluding weekends, and involve aircraft flying at high speed over the region, supported by trucks, radar systems and all-terrain vehicles.
According to the Air Force, these missions form part of the FC 2025-4 course based at Albacete Air Base and are designed to keep crews sharp and coordinated. The team has assured the public that, while some noise is unavoidable, all safety and environmental measures are firmly in place.
These training flights are not uncommon but previous rounds of these flights have caused a few startled moments across Lorca and nearby towns, when residents mistook the bangs for explosions or even small earthquakes.
In fact, similar drills earlier this year led to a few noise complaints before it was confirmed that nothing was wrong, just pilots breaking the sound barrier.
This time, authorities have been careful to alert everyone well in advance. Local and regional government departments have been notified, as have property owners whose land will be temporarily used to support the operations. The TLP also says it will ensure the area is fully restored once the exercises are complete.
So, if you hear an unexpected bang (or more) echoing across Lorca next week, don’t panic – it’s not construction work gone wrong or a mystery explosion. It’s just the sound of pilots keeping their supersonic skills in shape and Spain’s skies safe.
Image: Ayuntamiento de Lorca
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