Big turboprop west over South London 29/11
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Big turboprop west over South London 29/11
Anyone know what was heading west over south London at about 7:15pm tonight (29/11)?
Very deep and unusual sounding turboprop, certainly not a Q400 or Herc, nor would I think an AN-12 or AN-26 which are fairly regular over these parts. Might be a Transall, or perhaps an A400 - haven't seen or heard one of those yet!
Nothing on FR24...
Thanks, Treadders
Very deep and unusual sounding turboprop, certainly not a Q400 or Herc, nor would I think an AN-12 or AN-26 which are fairly regular over these parts. Might be a Transall, or perhaps an A400 - haven't seen or heard one of those yet!
Nothing on FR24...
Thanks, Treadders
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I too heard it in Southwark, was surprised by the deep roar, almost like a huge Swedish freight train crossing our yard. I went outside, but thick cloud prevented me from seeing anything. Weather, especially cloud, can have a very big affect on sound, but this was unusual.
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I'd would guess it to have been at around 20000 or so. Surprised if it was indeed the C-130J which are regular passers by on their way home to Brize, they seem to have a higher note; and as joy ride says this did sound very unusual - when I first heard it I did wonder if it was the AN-22 but as my fillings didn't start to rattle...
Ah well!
Thanks all,
Treadders
Ah well!
Thanks all,
Treadders
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Ah, nice one, thanks Eric! Always liked the sound of Tynes!
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We'll Bear it in mind AeroSpark!
(Never seen a Bear in the air, bet those engines/props rattle yer fillings too!)
(Never seen a Bear in the air, bet those engines/props rattle yer fillings too!)
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We live 40 nautical miles north of Istres and get our daily dose of Tynes as 'Le Transall' booms its way at climb power, heading I would guess for Bretigny, the other Centre de Essais en Vol south of Paris. Yes, it makes the glasses in the sideboard buzz, but we'll miss it when it's gone. 2018 is the date for their eventual retirement.
The Indian Navy have some TU-142MEs at Dabolim, Goa. To our delight, one started up, and after seemingly interminable checks, took off. It made exactly the sound one would expect!
The Indian Navy have some TU-142MEs at Dabolim, Goa. To our delight, one started up, and after seemingly interminable checks, took off. It made exactly the sound one would expect!
Last edited by Georgeablelovehowindia; 1st Dec 2015 at 07:52. Reason: Indian Navy version of TU-95 is TU-142ME
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Mmmm, on a very hazy day during the summer, a turbo prop sounding rather like that went over on much the same route as the Transall. Barely got a glimpse of it through the crud and did wonder if it might be an A400M. Doubtless they'll seem very common soon.
when I first heard it I did wonder if it was the AN-22 but as my fillings didn't start to rattle...
There's always something highly frustrating for certain people (of which i'm one), to hear such a loud droning above the clouds and to not know what it is being made by
SHJ
AFAIK, there are only half-a-dozen AN-22s still in service, all but one with VTA (Russia's Military Transport Aviation Command), in basic Aeroflot markings plus one at Kiev in Antonov's house colours.
Used to live in The Wirral as a kid, Vanguards on LHR-Belfast were certainly audible from the ground there in the cruise, probably at 20-25,000 ft. Likewise one running up for departure from Edinburgh's old runway 31 could be heard on quiet winter evenings from up at Edinburgh Castle. I don't know why they were so noisy when their close competitor for size and power, the Bristol Britannia, was the opposite, the "Whispering Giant". I suspect the props rather than the powerplant, I believe De Havillands for the Vanguard and Dowtys for the Britannia.
Extended ground runs of the Merchantmen at Castle Don. on the compass base eventually took the novelty out of the sound (and feel) of the Tynes. Some days, the whole airfield seemed to resonate for around four hours.
However, only today I was describing to a fellow enthusiast hearing a Merchantman run up at Teesside, over four miles from my house, taxi to the far end, then depart on a still summer's evening, coming into sight looking very heavy indeed. Embarrassingly, I got goosebumps simply describing the event of thirty years ago.
However, only today I was describing to a fellow enthusiast hearing a Merchantman run up at Teesside, over four miles from my house, taxi to the far end, then depart on a still summer's evening, coming into sight looking very heavy indeed. Embarrassingly, I got goosebumps simply describing the event of thirty years ago.
In this post-radial age (talking of big transports), we have to make do with the ever-fewer big turboprops (as well as the occasional RR Merlin and Chinook) to provide the kind of aurally-induced adrenalin rush that makes one abandon PC for the garden in all weathers...
Quote from WHBM:
"I don't know why [the Vanguards] were so noisy when their close competitor for size and power, the Bristol Britannia, was the opposite, the "Whispering Giant". I suspect the props rather than the powerplant, I believe De Havillands for the Vanguard and Dowtys for the Britannia."
Think you are right about the props generating most of the noise on both types. But the Proteus itself was an incredibly quiet engine. As the Brit approached you taxiing, it was virtually inaudible. It was only when the pilot throttled it right back that a momentary "whoosh" was heard: possibly the prop blades going into full-fine (or, perhaps, even reverse) pitch. Then, when the a/c had turned on to the runway and the power levers were pushed forward, there was no noticeable increase in the pitch of the noise - simply a slight increase in the volume. So different an engine from its less-powerful contemporary, the Dart. Oh for a hi-fi recording...
Yes G-ALHI, am familiar with the sound and sight of strings of Transalls en-route at low level from Toulouse-Francazal to the parachute-dropping area near Pau. But most of them seem to be abroad on ops these days, and Francazal has closed.
Quote from WHBM:
"I don't know why [the Vanguards] were so noisy when their close competitor for size and power, the Bristol Britannia, was the opposite, the "Whispering Giant". I suspect the props rather than the powerplant, I believe De Havillands for the Vanguard and Dowtys for the Britannia."
Think you are right about the props generating most of the noise on both types. But the Proteus itself was an incredibly quiet engine. As the Brit approached you taxiing, it was virtually inaudible. It was only when the pilot throttled it right back that a momentary "whoosh" was heard: possibly the prop blades going into full-fine (or, perhaps, even reverse) pitch. Then, when the a/c had turned on to the runway and the power levers were pushed forward, there was no noticeable increase in the pitch of the noise - simply a slight increase in the volume. So different an engine from its less-powerful contemporary, the Dart. Oh for a hi-fi recording...
Yes G-ALHI, am familiar with the sound and sight of strings of Transalls en-route at low level from Toulouse-Francazal to the parachute-dropping area near Pau. But most of them seem to be abroad on ops these days, and Francazal has closed.
Last edited by Chris Scott; 3rd Dec 2015 at 22:02.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Used to see Dutch Navy Atlantics quite regularly (and Neptunes too in the 70s!) which I recall as equally noisy, presumably the same props on their Tynes?
You can't beat pistons though.
You can't beat pistons though.