Testing the sound mirrors that protected Britain
Over on the RAF Starrship channel, I’m talking about the history of radar: https://youtu.be/VDC_RCh0ws8 – but over here, we’re testing a 90-year-old piece of technology that was meant to be part of Britain’s air defence. The Sound Mirrors, on Romney Marsh, were built in the late 1920s as a way to amplify the sound from aircraft engines over the English Channel. We’re flying a bit closer than that, with a drone.
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@TomScottGo
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
I've wanted to make this video for literally four years, and – thanks to the RAF team – all the pieces finally came together. Do go check out my history of radar video over on their channel!
@Labourf4kedus
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
This is how Roman stadiums worked when doing plays for everyone to hear before speakers
@Cosmonaut_5
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
thats interesting!
@stupidtoga3523
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Fregin cool 😆
@mangopod2417
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
the guy hes yelling to for the drone is right next to him
@contrnsmagnificndjoobngtaint
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
i miss tom
@blublublu030
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Anyone in 2026 got this video suggested on their feed? What a time
@j0hnny_R3db34rd
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF ME.
@GeorgeOzier-gr5zq
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
These could work against stealth aircraft today.
@stealthybushcraft4545
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Pointless
@arthurandersen5369
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Same idea has been used in theatres for millennia.
@PutUinICU212
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
On a very quiet night,, you can hear a parrot break wind in France.
@1994CivicGLi
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
hmm, big ear
@hiscifi2986
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
You could have tried using it as a transmitter. Just put a source of music at the focus, and see how far away you could still here it. I have a few microwave dishes, and they do collect sound quite well.
@BenJamin-tx7ol
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Always thought they should have been developed alongside radar, there are some advantags such as it's undetecable.
And guess what ?
Ukraine have developed a 21st century computerised version that is surprising everyone.
Long live Ukraine. !
@JustaJackalope
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
"Big ear make noise to hear bad guy"
– inventor
@bobboberson2024
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Tom is the best. Short and sweet. And as many times before- I’ve never heard of this before!
@JI7NKJ
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Took things a helluva lot more seriously back in the day, now being invaded without a shot fired.
@lapis.lareza
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Bro looks like Linus Torvalds
@warrenpeidl8453
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Wouldn't you need those on the other side of the channel//great river?
@barmsoon
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Tellement Anglais, très joli, presque Français dans la folie❤
@199010chris
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Employing the blind since WWII
@joshhumm1502
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
I love this type of science
@allezvenga7617
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Interesting 🤔
Thanks for your sharing
@marvinkodia244
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Watched this for 3+ minutes and still didn't understand anything, guess that's why my dad left me.
@bugattipenner
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
With stealth fighter and their almost undetectable radar crossection, the sound technology may get a secound change?
@ragael1024
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Easy fix: most come by boat.
@Kumar-vns
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Great thanks, I'm from Banaras, India
@BTx789
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
why tf you are out of focus?
@giovanniedabe6682
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
It can also helps to hear the ancient manananggal flying in the middle of the night.
@BackUp-z4t
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Interesting. Thanks.
@lewisrs5071
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
@storror
@grant-pedder
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
They don't build em like this anymore!
@josephmccord4511
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Poor example with no real feedback, wheres the echo simply demonstrated. A fail
@enverse244
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Britain trying to convince us these aren’t dragon defense walls
@chinarot-x7k
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Someone’s gonna find these in a thousand years and wonder wtf they were for.
@Williammeakin111
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Only works on flat earth aswell isn't that something
@Therealblazinteg
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Didn’t do much other then give time for civilians to dig in underground while the luftwaffe pummeled everything
@deaftodd
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
It would be interesting how the sonic boom affects the focal point.
@downix
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
This technology still has uses today. Stealth fighters still make noise.
@markbowden7238
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Various things allegedly protected Great Britain, or so they said.
@CriptonBot
April 23, 2026 at 9:01 am
Underground mirrors don’t work