The best engine sound ever as heard from the cockpit had to be that of four Merlins coming on song during take-off. The pilot opened up to enough power to accelerate up to a speed at which he could control the aircraft’s direction by rudder use only and then called for full power. The Flight Engineer pushed the throttle levers forwards differentially at a rate that gave the best acceleration but leading with numbers 1 and 2 in order to control the inherent swing to port. Engine sound increased in volume and pitch until at 3000 rpm and +12 boost all the engines came together in a combined steady roar. When the undercarriage and flaps were up and you were climbing away you could feel the noise and stress levels reduce as you came back to 2850 +9.