The Tu-95 had unprecedented noise levels as well as performance. I remember reading that some Western fighter pilots reported actually hearing the Tu-95's prop roar above the noise of their own aircraft!
As much as I love air travel, the fact that aviation fuel is not taxed is a massive anomaly in transport policy and a significant distortion of the market. Rail travel uses a small fraction of the fuel per passenger mile, despite offering the passenger vastly improved comfort and amenities (space, restaurant, etc.), but is having a tough time competing with low-cost airlines because the latter have dirt cheap fuel. To dismiss rail as 19th century technology is, I think, rather short sighted, considering the likes of the TGV and progress such as
this.