Potentially controversial - Is the Vulcan REALLY that noisy?
Discussion
Something I've been wondering for some time. I'll make it clear now I'm a massive fan of the Vulcan - I love the presence, the sound, the looks (I actually think it's better looking in the sky than Concorde) and the history.
But....I've seen it a few times now, the most recent being Bournemouth today. I've seen it in the air and on the ground, taxiing and taking off. And the thing I keep going back to in my mind is how people always bang on (no pun intended) about how noisy it is, when unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure it really is compared with other aircraft. Sounds good? Yes, the noise is to die for - the Vulcan howl is something everybody should experience! But today at Bournemouth, the Tornados were shaking the ground a lot more. Miss Demeanour (Hunter) seemed on a par with it too, though they were really throwing that around!
I regularly attend the CWJ day at Brunters too. I was lucky enough to attend last year when XH558 made a surprise appearance, and took off at the end. Truth be told, I felt the Nimrod and Lightning absolutely blew the Vulcan away for sheer volume. The Victor was on a par too.
So I thought it'd be nice to see what others genuinely thought. Like I say, I'm a massive fan (and financial supporter of XH558) and what they've done is fantastic. A round of applause came over when it passed overhead today - and I don't think that's over the top.
But....is it REALLY that loud? On one hand I want people to tell me I just haven't stood at the right angle on the right day and I've yet to be educated, but on the other hand if they do say that then how many chances will I have left!
So far for me, the Lightning wins for volume, and the Nimrod for ground/organ shaking ability! What do you think?
But....I've seen it a few times now, the most recent being Bournemouth today. I've seen it in the air and on the ground, taxiing and taking off. And the thing I keep going back to in my mind is how people always bang on (no pun intended) about how noisy it is, when unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure it really is compared with other aircraft. Sounds good? Yes, the noise is to die for - the Vulcan howl is something everybody should experience! But today at Bournemouth, the Tornados were shaking the ground a lot more. Miss Demeanour (Hunter) seemed on a par with it too, though they were really throwing that around!
I regularly attend the CWJ day at Brunters too. I was lucky enough to attend last year when XH558 made a surprise appearance, and took off at the end. Truth be told, I felt the Nimrod and Lightning absolutely blew the Vulcan away for sheer volume. The Victor was on a par too.
So I thought it'd be nice to see what others genuinely thought. Like I say, I'm a massive fan (and financial supporter of XH558) and what they've done is fantastic. A round of applause came over when it passed overhead today - and I don't think that's over the top.
But....is it REALLY that loud? On one hand I want people to tell me I just haven't stood at the right angle on the right day and I've yet to be educated, but on the other hand if they do say that then how many chances will I have left!
So far for me, the Lightning wins for volume, and the Nimrod for ground/organ shaking ability! What do you think?
Ultuous said:
Dunno - last time one flew over me I was 3 years old: apparently I slept right through it whereas my dad (despite being pretty familiar with the Olympus engines as he worked for RR) absolutely shat himself! 
(Hoping to get the chance to see it, along with a VC10 before they disappear forever...)
I DESPERATELY want to see a VC10 fly before they ground them all. I should really get my arse into gear and head to.....?(Hoping to get the chance to see it, along with a VC10 before they disappear forever...)
speedtwelve said:
The Vulcan is pretty loud with full-power selected. Problem is, with a nod to engine life it almost never does. I'd imagine take-offs are derated. I remember Vulcan displays when the type was still in service. 90 degrees angle-of-bank wingovers and max-power in the climbs. Loads of racket.
See this is the sort of thing I was wondering. I WANT the Vulcan to be the noisest, howliest, biggest b
dest aeroplane of them all - genuine! Just gutted it's probably not somethign I'll see at its peak.What are XM655's fast taxis like? Never been to see it - 301 spares easier to come by, perhaps they take a few more 'risks'!
eharding said:
The Vulcan dropped in at the end of the White Waltham Members' Day display today, and whilst they did briefly give it some beans, it was remarkably quiet and restrained - but given the absolute requirement for mechanical sympathy towards the engines, entirely understandable. I don't think they even managed to generate a noise complaint from one of the local move-next-to-an-airfield-and-start-to-complain-about-aircraft-noise brigade.
A few years ago we'd had a Members' Day which for some reason had a small contingent of the usual suspects up in arms, phoning the Ops room every five minutes to complain about the gaggle of Cubs, Cherokees, a few Yaks, Pitts and Extras and other local aircraft gently carousing in the overhead in what is an annual equivalent of an aviation village fete. Then the Tornado that the RAF had kindly sent to add a bit of rock and roll turned up, comprehensively beat the place up and finished with a rather splendid run down the display line with the burners plugged in, running out to the north straight over noise-complaint central. The phone stopped ringing. I think they were worried that we might bring it back: all apart from one chap who phoned up - actually a very elderly WLAC member, who was very much on-side about the activity at the airfield, was very sorry he wasn't there but he wasn't feeling up to coming over that day, but would we mind telling the Tornado crew that his dog had reacted to the departure-with-gusto over his house by running in from the garden, jumping on the sofa, and crapping itself.
Agree entirely with the Vulcan comments. Cheers for the Torando story too!A few years ago we'd had a Members' Day which for some reason had a small contingent of the usual suspects up in arms, phoning the Ops room every five minutes to complain about the gaggle of Cubs, Cherokees, a few Yaks, Pitts and Extras and other local aircraft gently carousing in the overhead in what is an annual equivalent of an aviation village fete. Then the Tornado that the RAF had kindly sent to add a bit of rock and roll turned up, comprehensively beat the place up and finished with a rather splendid run down the display line with the burners plugged in, running out to the north straight over noise-complaint central. The phone stopped ringing. I think they were worried that we might bring it back: all apart from one chap who phoned up - actually a very elderly WLAC member, who was very much on-side about the activity at the airfield, was very sorry he wasn't there but he wasn't feeling up to coming over that day, but would we mind telling the Tornado crew that his dog had reacted to the departure-with-gusto over his house by running in from the garden, jumping on the sofa, and crapping itself.
Edited by eharding on Saturday 1st September 22:26
Everything about the Vulcan makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It's just to be near Lightnings that are giving it the beans is like someone pushing two semi-sharpened pencils directly into your ears. The Vulcan isn't, it's just loud like most big jets.
I want it to impair my hearing
I want it to impair my hearing
b14 said:
Looks like we have a winner! 
A couple of years ago at B'mth, we could feel the Typhoon through the gear lever as we were driving away from the airshow early to beat traffic, not realising the EF was en route. Saw it at Farnborough in 2006 too....I remember thinking it'd probably be quiet because it's new etc.
How wrong can you be?!
How wrong can you be?!
FourWheelDrift said:
Kitchski said:
So going by the responses of this thread, it looks like I'm yet to experience the Vulcan on full chat 
Just means I'm going to have to make sure I'm there for the last ever flight!
Possibly the best take off noise/howl recorded I have heard, after the B52 eventually gets off the ground - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOgsgnZ8dwJust means I'm going to have to make sure I'm there for the last ever flight!
DamienB said:
1. Turn volume on PC to absolute maximum
2. Warn neighbours
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1pPQZ_LE
I've never been so jealous of the deaf!2. Warn neighbours
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djd1pPQZ_LE
Zaxxon said:
I know I will get flamed for this, but I'm not very interested in the Vulcan, it was impressive to see and hear it take off once at Farnborough but it seems to be over hyped now. I know why as it takes so much money to keep it in the air.
However I would far prefer to see other types put in the air, the trouble is that I doubt that many of those types would garner the same level of support from the public.
I'd happily donate to a Victor or Lightning to the sky! However I would far prefer to see other types put in the air, the trouble is that I doubt that many of those types would garner the same level of support from the public.
FourWheelDrift said:
Kitchski said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Kitchski said:
So going by the responses of this thread, it looks like I'm yet to experience the Vulcan on full chat
Just means I'm going to have to make sure I'm there for the last ever flight!
Possibly the best take off noise/howl recorded I have heard, after the B52 eventually gets off the ground - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYOgsgnZ8dwJust means I'm going to have to make sure I'm there for the last ever flight!
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqA6bgFPGWIwilliamp said:
don't forget at Bruntingthorpe a few times every year you can see fast taxi runs (ie almost take off) from a lightning, buccaneer, victor and others
Loudest I've ever heard at Brunters was the Nimrod in 2011. Lightning's in with a special mention as is the Victor, which shotblasted us the first year we went.Buccaneers are disappointingly quiet though.
RoverP6B said:
The thing about the Vulcan isn't about outright decibels. Hearing Eurofighters is like being at a Slayer concert - but the Vulcan is a cathedral organ at full chat. It's the sheer massive volume of sound that gets you. It comes in behind you really quietly, then you hear this ominous crescendo and then the howl kicks in, THEN the back end hits you - it doesn't merely assault your ears, it whacks you in the ribs and stomach, then shakes the ground under your feet. It resonates for miles around.
Yup, I'd go along with that. I'm the OP, and I probably should have made more noise (geddit?) that I felt the Vulcan was one of the best sounding aircraft, irrelevant of any measurements dB wise! I also love the almost shriek-like sound the Hunters make.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff