OKEECHOBEE – “What was that boom?”
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![This map shows the areas influenced by Avon Park Air Force Range. Parts of Okeechobee County are considered MIPA 2: "Potential day and night low level aircraft overflight, and military training noise during training exercises" [Art courtesy APAFR]](/uploads/original/20250317-100817-1dc-Avon Park bombing range influence.jpg)
OKEECHOBEE – “What was that boom?”
Recently, Okeechobee County residents have taken to social media asking about the source of the “booms” they hear.
Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR) covers 106,000 acres in Highlands and Polk County. The range provides an important training facility for active duty, National Guard, and reserve military units from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard.
Training noise can sometimes be heard in Okeechobee County.
The range has approximately 400 square miles of restricted airspace and 1,000 square miles of military operating area.
The APAFR website shows parts of Okeechobee County are in the MIPA 2 Zone: “Outside a 3-mile radius of the Avon Park Air Force Range, a military training facility. Potential day and night low level aircraft overflight, and military training noise during training exercises.”
The APARF posts training updates on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thebombingrange.
On March 17, they posted: “We are training today (03/17/25) from early morning until evening! Noise levels VERY HIGH!"
When not in use for training, the 106,000 acre facility is open to the public for hunting and recreation. Permits are required.
