Which part of the cabin for the smoothest ride?
Joined: Apr 2002
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From: Hong Kong
I find over the wings based on my belief that the plane pretty much has to pivot about its CoG. But then again they wouldn't put the big ticket seats up the front if it wasn't comfy would they?
I don't like being right down the back.
I don't like being right down the back.
Joined: May 2010
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From: maidenhead
The front of the aircraft on an airbus is the smoothest part in my personal opinion.
At the front I often cannot feel the turbulence or rocking that can be felt at the back of the aircraft.
Over the wings may also be smooth but it is very noisy in the wing area on most aircraft as you are closer to the engines!!
At the front I often cannot feel the turbulence or rocking that can be felt at the back of the aircraft.
Over the wings may also be smooth but it is very noisy in the wing area on most aircraft as you are closer to the engines!!
A Runyonesque Character
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: The South of France ... Not
Chuchinchow that's more to do with noise. The bigger turboprops had their F-class cabins down the back. Having flown on Britannia, Electra, IL-18 and Viscount I promise you that you would not want to sit abeam of the engines and props. Current types like the Dash-8 don't seem to be nearly so bad.
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From: Lisbon
At the front I often cannot feel the turbulence or rocking that can be felt at the back of the aircraft.
When you are near the empennage, the action of the yaw damper can be quite pronounced, adding to the turbulence.
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2006
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From: Denmark
I've seen arguments both for the ride being smoothest by the wings (because the fuselage is suspended by the wings and flex will be more pronounced the farther you move away from the wings) and in the front (comparing the plane with a dart, which is most stable in the front).
To me the first argument sounds most reasonable, but what do I know, I'm just SLF.
To me the first argument sounds most reasonable, but what do I know, I'm just SLF.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Have always heard that the middle - abaft the wings - is the smoothest. Since that is where I'm riding for 10.5 hrs tonight - I'll let you know! BUT it varies depending on the size and length of the A/c and, it is oft said, manufacturer.
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Earth
the plane pretty much has to pivot about its CoG
It's why weight and balance calculations are so important in order to ensure your proposed CoG is within an acceptable range.
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From: Belfast
For what it's worth I think you notice the aircraft's motion more when sitting in the rear. You're looking right down the cabin so you get a much greater visual impression of movement than when you're sitting at the front. Several years ago Mrs. FF and I flew BHD to Liverpool on a Flybe Dash 8 400. We were sitting in the back row. The last 10 minutes were very rough. Like the couple across the aisle from us we were actually holding on to the seats in front to stop our heads banging together. We were literally being thrown around in our seats. I've had some rough flights in the front row of the same aircraft and it just doesn't seem as bad.
Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Berlin
I don't like to sit in back - or anywhere behind the wings. It's more noisy and by the time the flight attendants arrive with your food, they're usually already out of the more popular option 
.
Over the wings is nice.
.Over the wings is nice.
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Cropston Leicestershire
No where near the engines on any of the older generation props, more recent ones like the dash 8 seem fine though. Generally I'd say at the front is better, but best of all has to be upstairs on a 747! 
Joined: May 2002
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From: Brisbane
Does any airline have its F class in the middle of the plane to benefit from this smoother flying experience?
I guess they couldn't have the first class pax having to go through cattle class to embark and disembark, also for the bathrooms, cannot really have them over the wings.
I do not really like being right down the back, usually noisier, but it is the safest place on the aircraft, where on all the aircraft I am familiar with they instal the black boxes.
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: USA
Sit as far forward as you can afford. That's why the 2 winged master race are always at the front!
I don't think there's anywhere on the airplane that's more comfortable so far as the ride goes, though the business class/first class seats tend to be a little more comfy.
Personally, if I'm not driving you'll usually find me somewhere as far toward the back as I can get, asleep. It's closer to the restrooms, and closer to the galley.
Anywhere aft of the engines will be louder.
Anywhere nearest the center of gravity will have the least movement. If you figure out where that is, let me know. I might move there.
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
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From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Last night I was on VS LHR~JNB on a 744 and the PE seat I was in was just at the leading edge of the wing. During the night I got up for my usual leg stretch and I always walk down to the back, across and back up the other aisle and then, depending on the disposition of pax and my seat, another circuit or return the same way.
When I got to the back, I was VERY surprised at how much the tail was wagging. Over the wings, we were experiencing a slight 'rumble' but the tail was really 'cobble stones'. I know the yaw damper can be very active but I was doubly surprised as this was one of the all time smoothest rides I have had on that sector. Even the equator was MUCH quieter than usual. So I'm rather glad that PE is where it is.
On another matter, to adapt the OP.
In which part of the sky do you get the smoothest ride? Over countries now in ferment?
The normal route is over Tunisia and Libya, for some reason, our track was much further west, over Algeria and then in a more or less straight line over Angola to Botswana and in to South Africa(various other countries along the way of course).
When I got to the back, I was VERY surprised at how much the tail was wagging. Over the wings, we were experiencing a slight 'rumble' but the tail was really 'cobble stones'. I know the yaw damper can be very active but I was doubly surprised as this was one of the all time smoothest rides I have had on that sector. Even the equator was MUCH quieter than usual. So I'm rather glad that PE is where it is.
On another matter, to adapt the OP.
In which part of the sky do you get the smoothest ride? Over countries now in ferment?
The normal route is over Tunisia and Libya, for some reason, our track was much further west, over Algeria and then in a more or less straight line over Angola to Botswana and in to South Africa(various other countries along the way of course).