I do love the sound of......

[racedo]

Spent last couple of weeks in sunny Languedoc and one late afternoon after a long lunch with some Moules Frites and a couple of glasses of a local wine myself and mate I was visiting left the ladies to walk the few metres across the dune to the beach.

Away to the left 6 French military copters were coming parallel to the beach from a few KMs, long visible coast with tops on the waves and they were reasonably low.

Immediately the "Aplocalypse Now" helicopter attack scene came into my head.........mate told me after he had same idea.....but he also said if music started from the Heli's then he was gone like hell and I was on my own.:)

A voice in French to our left told some teenagers to turn off their music and they did so which was a surprise and they stood around looking like teenagers cauight doing something they shouldn't.

It was a great scene and as they had passed the French voice told the teens it was ok for their music now and said out loud in English "I do love the sound of Helicopters in the evening".......clearly a fan of the movie.

Good moment.

[ACW599]

1. Any Merlin but especially 4 x Merlin at high power (4 x Griffon was never quite the same):
2. 4 x Olympus, especially if reheated (sorely missed):
3. The Blue Note:
4. The Napier Sabre, as captured on one awesome recording:
5. Non-military but 4 x RB211-524 idling after start in the BA 747 that's taking you home after too long away.

[The Oberon]

Two Saphires in a Javelin at full throttle, always reminded me of ripping canvas. Lovely noise.

[newt]

Do you not think this thread should be in Rotorheads?

[herkman]

What often appeals to some, often has little to do with their interests, but relate to their exposure to events over the years.

I was in the UK when the battle for Britan Lancaster went over. I turned to my friend beside me, who was Dutch and had lived through the German stay, and I said what a lovely sound.

He stated but with his eyes never leaving the departing airplane,and said it may be a lovely sound, but to me it is the sound of freedom.

55,000 good men gave up their future, so that others may live.

Regards

Col

[Rigger1]

There is one sound to beat all the others hands down ..... A Merlin - The Rolls Royce variety.

[ArthurR]

The sound and vibrations, of 4 Vulcans doing mass rapid starts and a scramble take off. Sadly a sound that can not be repeated. :{

[incher]

I work at Cape Town International. So every once and while we hear the Lightning, Hunter, and a Jet Provost. But the ultimate is hearing the last flying Shackleton low and slow. Awesome!

[1.3VStall]

Katherine Jenkins!

(Yes, I know it's thread creep, but she does look and sound wonderful).

[racedo]

2 hours 12 minutes before thread creep is that a record ? Assumed it would be shorter.

[ArthurR]

racedo, isn't it a bit personal calling 1.3VStall the thread creep. :E

[racedo]

I bet he has been called a lot worse and I'm sure he won't take A Fence, :ok: Gate, Wall or Hedge.

[1.3VStall]

I Have been called a lot worse, so no offence taken!

[parabellum]

Can anyone direct me to a clip of a Lightening making a noise like Krakatoa please?

[cornish-stormrider]

Vulcan - intake resonance howl.

[GPMG]

ME109 on a fast pass

Mustang whistling at the bottom of a dive

A-10 low level manouvering (especially when you can't see it, but you know it's there)

Huey UH101

[airborne_artist]

...any aircraft coming to pick me up and take me home, especially the mighty Wokka, the SK4 and the HH-53 :ok:

[1.3VStall]

Harvard prop tips going supersonic.

[Gainesy]

Turn your speakers up::ok::)

YouTube - Strathallan Airshow 1984 - RAF Shackleton (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPn65t7BQUk)

[Barksdale Boy]

Vulcan - rapid start - unbeatable.

[Grabbers]

the words

"no darling husband, I'll give you a b**w-j*b now because I'll be busy getting you a beer at half-time"

[Airborne Aircrew]

The Merlin is it for me...

It was sometime in the summer of 1984 when myself and three other lads, (who frequent Pprune from time to time), missed the transport across the airfield to the hanger. Not a big deal, it was a nice sunny morning with the hint of mist still on the ground so a nice walk was in order. Since Shawbury was a training station nothing much ever happened before 0800hrs. Imagine, therefore, our surprise when we were stopped by the traffic lights at the main runway.

I looked up the slope to see a single landing light about a mile or so out. On either side of the landing light I could vaguely make out an engine, a propeller engine. My immediate thought was "It's a Mosquito... But it can't be... There aren't any flying any more".

I told the lads what I thought and they collectively agreed that there were no longer any serviceable "Mossies" left. But as we watched it approach we became more and more convinced of what we were seeing . Finally, when it was about a quarter of a mile out there was no longer any question and we stood in stunned silence as two Merlin engines "grumbled by" at idle as the Mosquito landed not 30 feet in front of us. Truly one of those "magic moments" for me.

Right at the end of the video below is almost exactly what we saw and heard.

l1RV4O9vUqU

[kluge]

And now for something completely different:

YouTube - Pulse jet go kart for sale!!!! -SOLD (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5U-grFuXZ9U)

[Riskman]

....the last engine running down after the last sortie of the day:ok:

[Dengue_Dude]

For me, it was always the Hawker Sea Fury.

I remember a Families Day at Colerne in the early 70's when we had displays from a Spitfire IX and the RN Sea Fury.

The Spit was magnificent, but the Sea Fury was sublime, especially just after it went past and you heard the supercharger whine too . . .

Ah, bliss !!

[Aur]

Think of 5 of them taking off one after the other in preparation for the 8/8/88 celebrations. Dambusters relived almost. :)

[mayorofgander]

....the APU shutting down in Halifax/St Johns!!!:ok:
..or even Gander, to see my subjects!!

Later;
MOG

[BEagle]

...that eerie "Ah-hoooo-WAAH!" F-104 J-79 afterburner shriek of the 1970s.

...Hunter blue note. Even better, Meteor F8 blue note.

...200-ser Vulcan intake resonance howl.

...any Lightning, any time!

[FATTER GATOR]

Hunter on the blue note. Last saw that at Farnborough in 2000. Fabulous!

[Raven30]

VC10 winding up to full power......

[Hueymeister]

The sound of a Rolls Royce Merlin.....or the blade thwack of a Huey...

[mr fish]

the current F1 safety car.
big AMG merc V8 lump, heavily modded.
if only the F1 cars sounded like that!!!

current DUCATI desmo motogp bike, last years KAWASAKI screamer,

eddie van halen through 10,000 watts of MARSHALL AMPS,


and of course PA474, long may she fly:ok:

[Green Flash]

Yonks ago I was reposing in my back yard in darkest South Lincolnshire on a hot, sticky summer lunchtime. A bright sun but very very hazy, GRN vis at best but just thin cirrus overhead. To the east of me slowly increasing in sound was that of a Merlin; one of the BBMF cabs out of Coningsby on an airtest, probably. For the next 20 mins he aero'd about, I never once saw him. By the end of the twenty mins I was losing it big style, I don't mind admitting that some dust got in my eyes. Quite alot, in fact. Never saw whatever it was but to my dyeing days I will remember the glare of the sun, the haze, the dust and twenty minutes of a lightly thrashed Rolls Royce engine. You had to be there, I'm glad I was.:ok:

[Torque Tonight]

OtaoZvB7EFs

B*stards won't let me embed it. Direct link here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtaoZvB7EFs).

and some great Chinook noises:

APU starting and coming online
Igniters crackling on an engine start
Blades slap when pulling some lever at low level
and the sound of the M60 laying down some lead as heard from the cockpit (complete with smell of cordite):ok:

[racedo]

Was not the way I saw this going :) and I'm so glad that it headed in a different direction that allows some pretty damm good memories being replayed.:ok:

[Airborne Aircrew]

The Hunter "blue note" isn't bad at all but it lacks the base, deep throbbing quality of the piston engine...

Maybe I'm old... but the old piston engined airframes generate the most visceral reaction with me.

Love jets... love gas turbines of any kind... but _pure_ quality comes from a finely tuned piston engine if we are talking sound.

Awaiting incoming....

[Guzlin Adnams]

1. Four merlins in unison. Every time I hear the Lanc a lump comes to my throat. A sound which represents so many thousands who went before me. Dust in eyes.
2. Two Merlins, Mossi style so sadly missed.
3. I'd love to hear the Sabre.
4. The sound of a Nightingale over a cornfield.
(Time for bed, too much beer but the festival was good (Bury St Edmunds beer festival 2009:ok:)

[Old Photo.Fanatic]

Where do I start,
I lived west side of Bath
Earliest Memory, D-Day the sky full of Aircraft towing Gliders, from "Charmy Down" airfield north of Bath.
Post war ,Mass formations of 8th Airforce B17s/B24s/P51s flying West back to the USA
First Airshow 1952 Colerne,Mass take off /fly past by Brigands/Buckmasters.
Plus three B50 Washingtons.

Top of List the "Blue note" from a really fast Meteor/Hunter pass

1954 Farnborough,(Public Saturday) Sound barrier broken by the Hunter Swift,Javelin,DH110,and Supermarine 525.Then the subsequent "silent" transonic high speed very low level pass(Cacooned in Shock waves due to earlier Thunderstorm) with a delay before the sound arrived
Earlier memories,
The sound of the Brabazon, lived west side of Bath so saw it very many times, best was Colerne Airshow 1953, Brabazon did a fairwell appearence.
Pre Scapping.
Did 3 Flybys with the final a touch and go .

A flyover by 6 x B-36 Peacemakers.(Engines:6 Turning,4 Burning) going back to the USA after a UK deployment/Visit
Allowed a day off school by my Father to witness them.
The flew over Bath at Staggered heights ,so first quite High.then lower until the last one seeemed to fill the sky, Fantastic sound.
(You can get an idea from watching the Film "Stategic Air Command " with James Stewart, I think there are extracts on U-Tube.)

Other sounds.
Canadair Sabre breaking sound Barrier at an Early "Filton" Airshow.
The resonance whine from the back end of a Javelin.
The European debut of the F104 at "Bentwaters" 1959/1960?
On "Sproat Lake" Vancouver Island on the lake while Mars Flying boat did its stuff. Takeoff, Touch and go near the boat I was in, a full water drop, then a head on landing ,amazing sounds.
Others of note, Hastings clawing out of Colerne (Evening/Night could see the exhaust flames)
1987, A night flight out of Miami with Aerochago Boeing 377 Freighter to Domincan Republic, followed next day with a flight to San Juan in their Short "Connie," freight rigged, no sound proofing , the sounds on those two flights are a very special memory.
Others
Lightning /Phantom/Sr71/V Bombers/ Shakleton/ Any Merlin engined aircraft.

Early 707/DC 8s Starting up/Taxiing. Musn't forget in the 70s/80s I lived in Bracknell and the absolute magic sound of a Sunday evening of the East African Super VC10 climbing out of Heathrow ,WOW.
Hope I hav'nt gone on too long .
Hope I've quite some time left for me to enjoy a lot more yet.

[Howabout]

KC-135 with 4 x J57s when the water injection was activated at the beginning of the roll.

[sitigeltfel]

A second gear blast up the Combe de Lourmarin with the roof down and the exhausts echoing off the cliff face.

Ecstasy.

[BEagle]

TT - the only hint of blue note I could detect in that clip is in the first 9 seconds.

Watch the movie 'High Flight' and you can hear a Hunter formation blue note!

I can just remember seeing a huge silver aeroplane flying near Bristol and being told "It's the Brabazon". But I was only 2 or 3 years old when it was still flying, so I have my doubts....

[Low Ball]

The Middle Wallop International Airshows of the 70s and 80s. The Massed Approach, 100 plus helicopters from all 3 services approach the airfield from points east in Hampshire. From no noise to hell of a noise pistons and turbines. Ecstacy for us rotary types.

LB

[foxvc10]

A "Bear" rattling your fillings when your in close.

[GPMG]

When on gate duty at Bickliegh Barracks if it was quite enough, you could hear a faint double thump in the far distance.

It always happened at the same time and was supposed to be the Concorde going supersonic.

Such a shame that it will never be heard again (if that is what it was).

But like OPF I also lived in Bracknell for a short while and had the pleasure of seeing and hearing that beuatifull white swan fly overhead, heading out of Heathrow.

[Red Snow]

GAU-8 Avenger. Must be the best/worst sound ever, depending on whose side you're on.

[MOSTAFA]

The sound of the mighty Scout coming to pick you up, in the rain, after 10 days in a very muddy ditch and no warm food on the border in South Armagh.

[ionagh]

For me it would have to be four R3350s.
Remember Starliner freighters coming out of LHR as a young kid.

Although coming back, three R3350s was more likely :E

[EESDL]

....the light rumble of Samsonite wheels on marbled hotel foyer floor.........

[pulse1]

Engine shut down on a Sea Harrier.

[Ali Qadoo]

Thoroughly agree with all the posts about the dust in the eyes, lump in the throat effect of the Merlin - certainly up there with Elgar's Nimrod Variation on that score.

On a happier note, IMHO the noise of the SUU-23 is hard to beat and, talking of all things Akronelli, the ting-phhhht-clatter of that first bottle of Charlie being opened on one of the wall-mounted fire bells....heaven!

[Boatman]

The dulcet tones of metal on metal as a Gazelle takes to the hover, probably the worst.
The best: mighty lynx wazzing a pussers grey at deck edge (made the OOW duck)

[lasernigel]

Got to agree with the sound of a Merlin.:ok:
Living in Blackpool as a kid the sound of TSR2 and a Lightning either side as escort was nice.
Being ex Army the sound of a convoy of Meteor engines(downrated Merlins) in Centurion bridgelayers was good as well. Tho was a bitch to do a mag and plug change.
Challengers sound pretty good as well.:ok:

[BEagle]

...talking of all things Akronelli, the ting-phhhht-clatter of that first bottle of Charlie being opened on one of the wall-mounted fire bells...

Malvel rotary hand alarm bell, I'll have you know!

But yes, that 'phhsssshhht...doingggg' sound echoing across the bondhu from Block 101 is one of the classic 'sounds of the RAF'!

[sled dog]

The bone shaking growl of a AN22 at t/o power ( or a Bear )

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

The howl of the Temora Aviation Museum's Meteor F.8 as it makes a high speed pass! Lovely!:ok:

[EyesFront]

LOUD memory from an air day at Yeovilton in my youth: 'Fred's Five' doing low formation aeros just above the crowd...

Just found this link: Sea Vixen. Royal Navy. Carrier Jet. - Sea Vixen Display Teams > "Freds Five" (http://www.seavixen.org/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.cwlaojpovqekkrmt&pageId=99537)

[larssnowpharter]

P&W Double Wasp installed in F8F at full chat.:ok:

[alwayslookingup]

The tsssst/crack of the ring pull on a cool tinnie from the fridge at the end of a summer's day gardening/washing car/cleaning out garage/jet washing patio/cutting grass/cleaning windows etc and all the other myriad jobs you seem to find to do outside when the sun shines and you've got some time at home.

Pure nectar, but why is it you only need about two good swigs to be satisfied?

[ARCHIE1]

Beat me to it, FoxtrotAlpha18! I was about to say that, while there were lots of Meteors about during my childhood in the UK, it took until a couple of years ago for me to be introduced to that F8 Blue Note out there at Temora. The last flying F8 in the world, I believe, and well worth the trek (still quite fond of 4 x RR Conways though).

[MOSTAFA]

The noise that got me facinated was, as a young 10 year old sitting just off the runway at Culdrose as the mighty Gannet's took off - what a racket but we kids loved it.

[BEagle]

The howl of the Temora Aviation Museum's Meteor F.8 as it makes a high speed pass! Lovely!

In the 1970s, as VZ467 'Sir Winston', that jet was working for its living at RAF Brawdy in the target towing role. Often glown by one Flt Lt Douglas Arthur George Catt - known to one and all as 'Puddy'. After dropping the flag, he would disappear off downwind, only to re-appear a few minutes later in a cloud of condensation and a howl of blue note!

It's great that both 'Sir Winston' and Puddy are still around - if only they could be reunited!

[ian16th]

A squadron of fully laden Valiant BK1 Tankers, taking of from Gan before dawn, using water/meth injection.

[escapee]

Some footage of a Vulcan getting airborne from Coningsby with that distinctive howl being heard several times.:)

YouTube - Vulcan XH558 Take Off Coningsby 09-05-08 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-IPO7vyT7o)

[Geezers of Nazareth]

Somebody mentioned the sound of an Antonox 22 on take-off. There is an Antonov 22 at the museum at Speyer in Germany, adjacent to the small airfield with the same name.

The An22 was delivered to the museum by air, and there is footage of it landing there.

It makes 3 attempts at landing, with some glorious sounds during the go-arounds. YouTube - AN-22 landing in Speyer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RPOCd4g7Fs)

[foxtrot tango]

A Hellfire launching off the rail.......

[spannersatKL]

VC10 on the 'pipes' at BA engineering base...........ahh music!

[4greens!]

sorry to butt in (civilian here) at the hold 27 eggp concorde on short final -life-changing noise and sensation full reverse from 4 olympus' on 8000f runway even managed to take photo but dropped the camera on the tarmac when I opened the door of the 172

[Gainesy]

Hmm, I don't speak German but the tension in Geezer's An-22 vid is off the clock.:)

[Geezers of Nazareth]

Gainesy, glad you 'enjoyed' it.

When I went to the museum in the 90s I was quite surprised to see it there. I 'kind of' assumed that it had flown to somewhere nearby, been dismantled, floated along the canal/river, and then re-assembled.
Looking around the museum display I was quite staggered to see the film of it arriving by air. And that 'noise' is just something else.

After my time at the museum I went to the adjacent airfield just to check how long the runway is ... 'long' is not one of the words I would have used! I spent several minutes looking at the runway, the airfield and the local geography, thinking about the film of the landing ... and the go-arounds ... and the noise.

One things for sure, those buggers would never be able to creep-up on you!

[tyne]

Sorry to intrude as a civvy - but I can't resist.

4 Olys powering up from deep inside the belly of an Invincible.

That lovely power down noise a Harrier makes a second after it lands vertically.

The sound of a Pegasus echoing off scottish mountain sides.

That noise the Hunters used to make running down Chesil Beach. (Blue Note?)

[NYF]

Definitely the sound of race-tuned Rolls-Royce Merlin engines being thrashed to within an inch of their life and beyond in the Unlimited Class final at the Reno Air Races. While watching from one of the pylons.

[Liffy 1M]

Start-up and taxi-away of a Viscount or Vanguard/CL-44/Belfast was also good in terms of sound-effects - RR Darts and Tynes respectively.

[Gainesy]

Try this for a few hours. Part of the brief was: "Don't stare at the props Tovarich Gainesy".


YouTube - 'Bear' bomber on patrol (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NXms_EVLns&feature=channel)

[Bicster]

Think ive found a good example of the blue note here courtesy of a Meteor :ok:

YouTube - Gloster Meteor (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MT3u4Q7NLFY)

[Gainesy]

Yep, absolute cracker!:)

[GPMG]

That Bus in the AN-22 video is seriously lost.

[shotbelt]

That wonderful howl from an F104 ! can't find it anywhere on t'interweb:*

[Aelfwin]

Here you go Shotbelt:

YouTube - The Sound Of Starfighters F-104 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6K4iSxET6g)

[with alacrity]

That wonderful howl from an F104 ! can't find it anywhere on t'interweb:*

Try youtube site and search for F104G Volkel A/B

[Exmil]

Try here: F104 Starfighters at RIAT | Aviation | Veoh (http://www.veoh.com/collection/aviation/watch/v285029EfbYxzk8#)
although there's too much talk and not enough jet noise.
I agree with a number of posters - it's a Merlin. Closely followed by a couple of Speys in full reheat, or if not in reheat then combined with a long burst from the GAU-4A (drowns out the engine noise). Ahhh, the smell of cordite in the morning. Fond memories of chucking lead into the Med.

[Lightning Mate]

....or two Avon 301s as the hot streak ignited the burner rings - that is, of course, providing both lit together.

[Geezers of Nazareth]

Another Starfighter ... a Norwegian one which has recently been made taxi-able and engine-run-able.

YouTube - CF-104 Starfighter in Norway 2008. Awesome sound (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozIRwMhRVRY)

[kernowbird]

sounded fantastic on a dead still night as they taxied out on the night mail.
The background squeaks and groans from the undercarriage added to the Dak's magic.
And then the Bristol Freighter came along and my love of the Dak was displaced by a young nubile (?) thing !
Fond memories of Exeter in the 1980s

[Biggles225]

BEags, Ive been trying to find 'High Flight' for a few years now with no success at all! Any ideas? All I get on internet searches is the poem of the same name.

[BEagle]

Is this any use:

HIGH FLIGHT (1957) DVD Ray Milland (http://www.ioffer.com/i/HIGH-FLIGHT-1957-DVD-Ray-Milland-35808321)

[Biggles225]

BEags, youre too good for this job! Thank you very much.