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People living in parts of Lorca may hear unusually loud bangs over the coming days as the Spanish Air and Space Force carries out a series of military training exercises in the municipality.

 

Lorca Town Hall has warned that possible sonic booms could be heard between 3.30pm and 5.30pm on weekdays from Monday September 28 to Thursday October 8, with no exercises planned at the weekend.

 

The activity forms part of flight course FC 2026-3 being organised by the Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) at Albacete Air Base. The training will include missions involving air defence radar systems, with some military vehicles and other equipment already being deployed in the area.

 

As part of the exercises, aircraft will be permitted to fly at supersonic speeds. Although measures are being taken to reduce the impact of the manoeuvres and restrictions already apply to this type of military activity, the Town Hall explained that some sonic booms may still be noticeable from the ground.

 

A sonic boom is the loud noise produced when an aircraft travels faster than the speed of sound, meaning residents who hear one may experience a sudden bang rather than the continuous sound normally associated with aircraft flying overhead.