Which aircraft's engine sound do you like best?
Aug 27, 2010, 12:44 am
#1
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Which aircraft's engine sound do you like best?
As the risk of being stereotyped as a sad "planespotter" for starting such a thread ... 
I've flown on a variety of passenger aircraft over the years and you tend to have your favourites as far as engine sounds go.
My all time favourite is the initial drone of the de Havilland (now Bombardier) Dash-8's engines immediately after the props have spun up and stabilized.
Tied in joint second would be the sound during take-off roll of the Boeing 777 GE-90 engines and the Boeing 777-400 RR engines.
I certainly haven't flown on all possible passenger aircraft, but in my opinion the Dash-8 would take some beating.
I've flown on a variety of passenger aircraft over the years and you tend to have your favourites as far as engine sounds go.
My all time favourite is the initial drone of the de Havilland (now Bombardier) Dash-8's engines immediately after the props have spun up and stabilized.
Tied in joint second would be the sound during take-off roll of the Boeing 777 GE-90 engines and the Boeing 777-400 RR engines.
I certainly haven't flown on all possible passenger aircraft, but in my opinion the Dash-8 would take some beating.
Aug 27, 2010, 12:49 am
#2
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Q400 (modern Dash-8) has higher-tech props so quieter but still the same thrumming (som maybe better, or not depending on how loud you want it). No jet can match that sound (tips of the props are supersonic, causing the sound).
Aug 27, 2010, 3:33 am
#3
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Without a doubt the startup of a GE90-115B after push back on a 777-300ER ^^ First one side, than the other. Experienced it an uncountable number of times but still gives me a special thrill every time. I get chills thinking about it.
Aug 27, 2010, 4:01 am
#4
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A PW R-1830 radial on a DC3. No better aircraft engine noise than a piston radial
Aug 27, 2010, 8:16 am
#6
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A PW R-1830 radial on a DC3. No better aircraft engine noise than a piston radial
.More modern, the Dash-7 in which the revs and noise didn't seem to change at all throughout the flight.
Jets - straight-pipe water-injected 707 or anything with RR Speys.
Modern jets - pah !
Aug 27, 2010, 8:18 am
#7
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A PW R-1830 radial on a DC3. No better aircraft engine noise than a piston radial
Aug 27, 2010, 8:31 am
#8
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A PW R-1830 radial on a DC3. No better aircraft engine noise than a piston radial
Then there's the harsh clatter (and occasional "bang") of an S2F or C1A warming up.
Few sound experiences match the all enveloping roar of a low pass by a P-47 "balls to the wall."
For us old prop guys, there's always the meory of 4 Turbo-compound 3350s, a full symphony of mechanical ingenuity.
Orchestral? A "strike' of a half dozen loaded A1 Shyraiders flying off in succession
Then there was real "noise", an F4 Phantom on a bolter or wave off..."Wham, Bamm, Thank you, Maam!"
Last edited by TMOliver; Aug 27, 2010 at 8:38 am
Aug 27, 2010, 10:33 am
#11
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The R-3350 in a Connie was wonderful. I grew up under the flight pattern of DCA and would always look up when one went overhead. Yeah, the Connie rattled when you rode in it, but that was part of the charm.
For turbine aircraft, my favorite is the Rolls RB211 on an L1011. Very unique, and very familiar sounds..... (lots of time riding in DL L10's.)
For turbine aircraft, my favorite is the Rolls RB211 on an L1011. Very unique, and very familiar sounds..... (lots of time riding in DL L10's.)
Aug 27, 2010, 2:25 pm
#13
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Rolls Royce Spey on the BAC-111. You certainly knew when one of them was taking off. Must have been brutal to live around an airport where there was a lot of them using it.