Cabin noise levels in old airliners
 

I was wondering if anyone knows what the noise levels in old airplane cabins (e.g. Tri-motor, Boeing 247, Constellation, De Havilland Comet, Boeing, 707) were, in decibels. I've searched the internet and can't find any information on this.

You are in for quite a chase. Douglas was one of the first aircraft manufacturers to do extensive acoustic testing of cabins in the late 1930's and early 1940's. Douglas lead the way by stuffing sound deadening material into the hollow aluminum tubing of passenger seats. Subjective noise levels will vary, of course. Vibration accompanying a loud sound will always make the subject think the sound is louder than it actually is. In the late 1940's and early 1950's, several Trans-Atlantic low-cost operators routinely removed the sound deadening materials from Constellations and DC-4's to increase payload at the price of their passengers damaged ear drums. The good ole days weren't always that good. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.

Accurate noise measurements can be informative, although to truly appreciate the difference between jet powered flight and piston powered aircraft, vibration needs to be considered as well. The difference between the two is nothing short of dramatic.

My family belonged to a flying club and as a child I got to experience a few trips in a Martin 404 and an L749 Connie. The vibration was exciting and noise tremendous on both aircraft. We would have to raise our voices almost to a yell in order to be heard across the aisle on the Constellation. I would guess the difference must have surely been north of 20db at cruise.

Maybe memory dulling with age but I recall both Britannia and VC10 being quite quiet. B727 too.

Hmm

as I remember it 727-707 -737/757/767-747-Tristar/DC-10 -777-A380 in general terms of decreasing cabin noise

The 111 was a bit noisy near the back as was the Trident and the Tu-154 but the DC-9 seemed quieter than the 111 all round

Anything with propellors was MUCH noisier but less vibration in a turboprop

Though the Vanguard made a valiant effort, lovingly known as the Vickers Vibrator to regular passengers.

707-320C was very quiet - on approach to LGW from Palma 1969 on a Cale 707 i thought the engines had conked out

The advertising tag line for the VC10 was “Slip across on the quite”. From my memory it was, on the inside, far quieter than the 707 however on the outside it was a different story altogether!

I recall an epic flight in a BEA Vanguard Gibraltar to Gatwick, if I remember it took nearly five hours because of the winds and at the end of it I was nearly deaf, the noise and vibration were dreadful. Good job it was the sixties because none of us noticed much back then anyway!:ok:

The Britannia first class section was normally at the back end of the aircraft due to noise and vibration, which was loudest in line with the props. It was remarkably quiet in the rear cabin, spoilt only by a bit of wind noise..

should have gone easy on the Baked Beans & Lager..............

Memories of coming home after three and a half years in Malta on an Eagle Airways DC-6 are of continuous up and down noise plus vibration. Our seats were over the wing.

Cannot recall noise levels but as a young boy remember getting off BOAC Argonauts and Stratocruiers used on the West Africa routes and wondering why my teeth were loose in my gums - going to sleep with my head resting on the window/fuselage..?

Never flew in a piston airliner, but judging from movies of the time they were all whisper quiet on the inside and as smooth as silk!!!

The Blackburn Beverley's of RAF Transport Command were not very quiet at all.

Not tried the 78 or A350 but the A 380 is extremely quiet

Back in the day tho rear engine jets were quiet on the inside but on the outside whoa.... A VC10 sounded like a whole squadron of Phantoms and made everything around you that could vibrate vibrate. And Caravelles could still be heard while they were miles away in the climb out

The 707 320C was quiet at flight idle in the descent but outside with gear and flaps down it emitted a piercing scream for the last few miles down the LHR glidepaths one of which passed right over a Cinema in Hounslow I used to frequent as a kid and seemed just as loud as standing in the street outside.

The MD80 series were the best balance of in and out noise for the rear engine generation although at the end off their careers the oddly nicknamed Mad Dogs were the noisiest when mixed in with the Minibuses and later 737s. Fantastic to fly in up front though with no engine noise at all and absolutely one of my favourites to fly on.

I never flew on a recip prop but living close to LHR back when the SW/NE runways in use there was a big variation in engine noise, I would say the powerful turbo compound engines on DC7Cs were quiet , DC6s didnt seem to be working their engines all that hard ( probably why they outlived all the others) Noisiest were Argonauts and Yorks with their snarling Merlins , the US radials were definitely much quieter.

A lot safer, faster, smoother and quieter today but back then spotting or just a keen interest saw a wonderful variety of types pass through LHR.

The noisiest civilian flight that I can recall was in an Argonaut of Air Links from Germany. One of the worst landings followed!!!!

A mate of mine (a Scout) came back from Oman in one - said it took forever and was an experience not to be repeated at any cost

The RAF Hastings was very noisy and uncomfortable. The first time I flew in one, on take off, sounded as if all the ‘big-end’ bearings had gone! In comparison a Comet was extremely smooth and quiet.

In the '50s, the absolute worst was the North Star - Merlin engines.

The best was the Viscount - much faster than the North Star.

DC-3/6/7, Stratocruiser, Constellation all quite reasonable except that the Connie rear toilets were loud and vibrating. But by comparison with the North Star Merlins, everything else was quiet;)