As I close in on nearly 2 decades as an aviator, I can tell you with certainty that one cannot tell from the ground how high a plane is with any reliable accuracy. Pattern altitude is typically 1,000 feet AGL for most general aviation airports. In downtown austin, there are buildings that approach 1,000 ft, and I think there is one under construction that will exceed that.
You fly that low, and supersonic, and you're leaving a trail of broken shit everywhere. Shattered windows, stuff falling off walls...its not just a loud noise...
As I close in on nearly 2 decades as an aviator, I can tell you with certainty that one cannot tell from the ground how high a plane is with any reliable accuracy. Pattern altitude is typically 1,000 feet AGL for most general aviation airports. In downtown austin, there are buildings that approach 1,000 ft, and I think there is one under construction that will exceed that.
You fly that low, and supersonic, and you're leaving a trail of broken shit everywhere. Shattered windows, stuff falling off walls...its not just a loud noise...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyHELyBkSZs
As a paratrooper, I know ~1,000ft well from both sides.
800-1100 ft is where most training chalks are dropped.
Around 1 min in you can see the plane and ground from a ground perspective.
You are correct. If they were that low it would be incredibly strange, and possibly would show signs of damage to buildings, etc.