I thought it was war breaking out

Our thoughts too. We thought it was some kind of attack and then we saw the jets for half a second. Ridiculous.

I love jets, but I couldn’t agree more. Flyovers are a fucking stupid way to celebrate anything. Especially for some stupid sports event that only about 1% of the population even knows about or gives a shit about.

Unrelated, love your username lol

Flyovers ARE fucking stupid. Totally agree. Sorry you were so scared! I know I was the first time it happened.

I enjoyed the flyby. Made my day

What was the occasion?

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Flying that low may have actually violated FAA and Air-force regulations

I appreciate aviation, but this was reckless. I used to live in a town next to an air wing, and they were a 5th as loud and you could always hear them approaching. It was insanely loud. For the sound to be so loud and come and go so quickly, the planes had to be near sonic. I hope that there's some serious complaints raised after this.

They're very dangerous, and in general not a great idea. I've seen many, and this one was next level on loudness.

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> No Air Force pilot is going to risk their career just to… show off, despite what you might have gleamed from watching Tom Cruise movies.

Military pilots do it all the time. Usually it's just drawing dicks in the sky with their flight patterns, but once in a (fortunately) long while it's actually something dangerous: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_Cavalese_cable_car_crash

But you only ever heard about the times that it ends in disaster.

I come from a background of aviation and I do think jets are interesting and all, I am more just saying this seemed crazier than what I've seen in other flyovers, and I'm unsure why they approved it to be so low and fast (and therefore loud). I'm sure it was on record and I've now seen it reported in many articles, but I didn't see that beforehand and it was unexpected. I don't have to have "psychic powers" to come home and find my cat terrified and jumpy, and I don't have to poll my whole neighborhood to see many other startled people on the street with me didn't exactly appreciate it.

I appreciate jets and all, I come from a background in the aviation/aerospace industry. I know it was planned and on record, but I just don't understand why it needed to be so low and fast. It seemed a bit much from someone who has seen many other flyovers. I don't need to have "psychic powers" to come home minutes later and find my cat shaking, or poll my neighborhood as many others out and about were visibly upset and confused. This just shouldn't be something that's done this way.

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How long have you lived in Cambridge? This happens several times every year (Red Sox opening day, Boston Marathon, various special events). Part of city life.

Where do you think jet fighters would be attacking from? A Chinese aircraft carrier that approached the coast undetected? Canada? Think about it. I do see how it could be startling if you are new to the area.

I don't know man. It was loud and sudden and it scared us. I've lived in the area my whole life and worked around planes, it's not usually that loud. When my brain hears "sudden extremely loud ass noise" it doesn't rationalize what it is it just thinks maybe some kind of explosion, especially with all recent news.

What recent news?

When you say ‘the area’, are we talking in Cambridge or elsewhere in eastern MA? Loud flyovers happen severs times a year here (in Cambridge/Boston), and have as long as I can remember.

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Around Boston area. All the flyovers for Gillette went straight over the house I grew up in. I also lived in a town with an active air wing that would practice every day, and worked at an airport for several years. This was different, at least in my experience.

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It's called PTSD you knob

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So you’re new to downtown Cambridge/Boston then? The flyovers are much louder if you’re at close range to the “target”. Much more so than if you’re several miles away.

If you were out, how did you know your pets were mortified? Did they text you or tell you about it when you got home? My dogs don’t love the flyovers, but they’re so brief it’s not a big deal. A thunderstorm is much more traumatic for the dog who is sensitive to such things.

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Flyovers have always been a bad idea, but after 9/11 they became downright terrible.

Google the definition of PTSD you ignorant child

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I've heard some flyovers before that seemed loud, but I'm in Union Square and that was so insanely loud and I guess, relatively long lasting? That I actually started shaking, and I'm not a jumpy person by any means. I've never felt a physical reaction to a sound like that before. It was wild!

In a post 9/11 world, especially given the random acts of terrorism that we've witnessed all over, ourselves in Boston as well.... Flyovers are scary now. I think it needs to change with the times.

Lived in Cambridge since 2012 and never heard a flyover like this.

Not sure why you were downvoted. I’ve seen/heard a ton over the years but this one was louder than usual and was powerful enough that my house shook.

I confidently agree with “never heard a flyover like this”

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Bruins game at Fenway

That's kinda what spooked us. Just "loud noise in public" kinda triggered us to assume we were about to be in a domestic terrorism incident or something. Once we realized what was going on we were just annoyed.

I knew it was coming, but this one was particularly loud and still caught me off guard.

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How did you know it was coming? I wish I had!

Yep agreed. I was in the bathroom and my first thought was airplane - no, too loud, building collapsing? - no, no movement - what is it? Then my GF said it was probably military jets.

Bad idea, especially with no warning. Articles about it now generally seem on the same page: https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/01/02/flyover-for-bruins-game-at-fenway-park-freaks-out-boston-area-residents-almost-had-a-heart-attack/

Your comment on r/CambridgeMA was deemed to be either uncivil or harassment. Repeated incivility and harassment will result in a ban

I was watching the Bruins game on TV, so I connected the dots pretty quickly. But there should be better way to let people know it's coming.

My house was shaking. I legit thought there was some sort of explosion going off nearby

Not sure how you know when your pets are mortified. YMMV.

That's what we thought too. A lot of people are saying it's unrealistic to assume an explosion or attack. To those saying that, anxiety doesnt think rationally.

I get that it's cool to see the aircraft, I'd generally agree, this time just seemed more intense and sudden. I appreciate that your comment is a different point of view and still a mature response.

I've had a lot of real negative comments on this and it's frustrating. I get that my original post was highly negative so it's expected, and I also understand how some enjoyed yesterdays flyover. As a second explanation, I'll say that my girlfriend and I both just really got spooked by "extremely loud and sudden noise in public." sudden things like that trigger my anxiety, especially with how many domestic terrorism incidents are in the news. For someone without anxiety, I get that this is hard to understand, falling was also traumatic as I am coming off of a serious injury. I'm no stranger to aircraft noise, I worked at a regional airport for years, and I lived in Burlington Vermont for 6 years which is home to the extremely controversial (for noise reasons) green mountain boys. I didn't mean to piss anyone off, just consider that some people might react to things differently perhaps.

I understand some people may not have pets, but it's obvious. Loud noises terrify cats and rabbits. I wasn't home when the jets went over, but my roommates were, and our cat ran out of the room and hid for hours. He was startled by sudden noise the rest of the day. It's pretty easy to see the signs.

Still, not mortified. Terrified yes, but not mortified. I have two cats, one of who was very spooked (not mortified) and the other who woke up for 10 minutes before the sleep battle won again (also not mortified).

Alright well, they were scared. That's what I meant.

Did anyone get a video of it? I was out of town but am curious.

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It was incredible at the game in case you were wondering

not to mention, you know, return of looming fear of nuclear war.

Lmao

I don't think it's unrealistic at all. I'm not a person with anxiety at all, but there was literally a bombing in Boston less than 10 years ago.

Impress me then. In what way are jets good but they shouldnt be used for airshows?

For a second, I thought my neighbor's house was collapsing.

Scared the living fuck out of me.

A lot of rude comments in this thread. Do try to keep it civil. I’d rather not lock it.

But it made some sports ball people from the suburbs happy so it was probably worth it

No lie, I thought it was a terrorist attack.