Strange Vibration!

[Meldrew]

I would be interested to read any comments on the following from someone more knowledgable?

I have travelled as a passenger regularly on airlines for about 35 years, I am also a PPL of some 30 plus years, so I have some experience of in flight physical occurences.

Thursday 19th June BA 1334 Heathrow to Newcastle. I was a passenger around row 23, Airbus 310 I believe. On reaching cruise, a vibration started that was like riding a bike fast over cobble stones, this is the best way I can describe it. I have experienced plenty of turbulance before, but this was more like a kind of Aerodynamic flutter if I was in a light aircraft. This continued unchanged for about 20 mins , and only stopped when I perceived that speed was reducing accompanied by initial descent. Any comments?????

[Smokie]

Possibly Mountain wave if you were down wind of the system, especially on that or similar routings. :)

[MarkD]

when did BA have A310s?

[Golf Charlie Charlie]

I simply assumed a typo for A319 or A320.

[Meldrew]

Sorry, yes A320!!!!
Thanks Smokie, could well have been mountain wave, never actually experienced it before, although I am suprised that it was so pronounced on that route as upwind mountains were not very high. Wind was Northwesterly though.
Also respect for the flight crew that day, very choppy approach into Newcastle, I estimate that the landing wind was around 50 degrees right cross in excess of 30K gusting.

[expedite_climb]

I've seen some pretty hefty mountain wave from the pennines before, even at high levels, in heavy jets and light a/c... once had a PA38 climbing past FL100 at 800 fpm......

[Hamrah]

One possible cause might be leaving the landing lights extended. This causes aerodynamic vibration which can be felt in the seat rows near the leading edge of the wing.

H

[MarkD]

GCC

thought so too but didn't know if BCal had any 310s like the 320-100s BA inherited.

[Smokie]

I had a C150 at Fl 100 once, had to break of climb due no O2. Shame; still had 700ft/min on the clock! :cool:

[HZ123]

It is an old A320 and there is a characteristic whine throughout the flt from the engines. In the later models this noise was eliminated but nothing to worry about after the engine power was reduced there is less vibration but sometimes it is audible throuhout the flt. Just for the record BA was payed compo as the first 4 or 5 a/c did not perform to the spec and did not achieve the mpg. The second batch to complete the 10 had winglets fitted which eased the prolem and later models were all fitted with winglets. Should you fly on a recent A320 you will immediately notice the reduction in noise level.