Roaring/rumbling noise when a 757 is on the glide slope?
Discussion
Last September I flew to BOS on an AA B757. During the latter part of the descent I noticed an interesting rumbling/roaring noise. Having only been on only one flying trip before in my whole life, some nine years ago (!), I couldn’t really remember what to expect, noise-wise, so I just assumed it was a noise that all planes make at the point of the flight. I travelled onward by train and flew back from JFK on a B777 and have since been to BCN (B737 outbound and A320 inbound) and DUS (B737 both ways). On these more recent flights I noticed that the roaring noise on these planes during descent corresponds with the air brakes on the wings being raised. However, I’ve just been on another trip, to PFO this time, travelling on B757s again and noticed that the rumbling/roaring noise I’d heard on the 757 to BOS is separate from the one which you hear when the air brakes are applied, i.e., there’s still the wind noise from the air brakes, but there’s another, different roaring noise as you come in to land. Does anyone know what this noise is? Is there another air brake which is not visible through the windows, or do 757’s engines do something noisy on the glide slope that other aircraft engines don’t?
Its the standard issue lion which is held in the baggage hold. His ears are only just getting acustomed to the de-pressurisation of descent hence why he roars a little. Nothing to worry about .
Unless you leave any food in your bags.
In all seriousness, it could be the flaps on the wings, the leading edge extenders, or the undercarriage at a guess- thse would all create drag therefore disrupt ait therefore make a noise.
Just a guess though.
Unless you leave any food in your bags.
In all seriousness, it could be the flaps on the wings, the leading edge extenders, or the undercarriage at a guess- thse would all create drag therefore disrupt ait therefore make a noise.
Just a guess though.
Ah yes, I’d forgotten about the Lion!
I should have mentioned too – the noise on a 757 is there even when the visible air brakes aren’t raised, so I’m guessing it could be something that wasn’t visible from where I was sat (row 32 outbound) and row 23 (over the wing (inbound)), or, as you say, drag from the undercarriage, though there’s no comparable noise on other planes I’ve been on which surely there would be? Whatever the noise is, it’s definitely a unique 757 thing, hence my curiosity.
I should have mentioned too – the noise on a 757 is there even when the visible air brakes aren’t raised, so I’m guessing it could be something that wasn’t visible from where I was sat (row 32 outbound) and row 23 (over the wing (inbound)), or, as you say, drag from the undercarriage, though there’s no comparable noise on other planes I’ve been on which surely there would be? Whatever the noise is, it’s definitely a unique 757 thing, hence my curiosity.
Hi MitchT
I fly the 757 and am not aware of any noises especially different from other types. The speedbrakes (wing spoilers) are not used during the late stages of approach once flap 25 or 30 has been selected for landing. However, it is common for the gear to be lowered at the same time as the flaps run from 5 to 20 degrees which will dramatically increase wind noise. As the drag is increased (with flaps and gear) the engine thrust is increased to maintain the approach speed which will add even more noise.
All this noise together drowns out the Lion roaring in the hold!!
Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins (which works out at an average of around 33mph vertically)!!
I fly the 757 and am not aware of any noises especially different from other types. The speedbrakes (wing spoilers) are not used during the late stages of approach once flap 25 or 30 has been selected for landing. However, it is common for the gear to be lowered at the same time as the flaps run from 5 to 20 degrees which will dramatically increase wind noise. As the drag is increased (with flaps and gear) the engine thrust is increased to maintain the approach speed which will add even more noise.
All this noise together drowns out the Lion roaring in the hold!!
Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins (which works out at an average of around 33mph vertically)!!
Sifly said:
Hi MitchT
I fly the 757 and am not aware of any noises especially different from other types. The speedbrakes (wing spoilers) are not used during the late stages of approach once flap 25 or 30 has been selected for landing. However, it is common for the gear to be lowered at the same time as the flaps run from 5 to 20 degrees which will dramatically increase wind noise. As the drag is increased (with flaps and gear) the engine thrust is increased to maintain the approach speed which will add even more noise.
All this noise together drowns out the Lion roaring in the hold!!
Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins (which works out at an average of around 33mph vertically)!!
The 75 sounds much nicer than the 76 on takeoff I noticed.I fly the 757 and am not aware of any noises especially different from other types. The speedbrakes (wing spoilers) are not used during the late stages of approach once flap 25 or 30 has been selected for landing. However, it is common for the gear to be lowered at the same time as the flaps run from 5 to 20 degrees which will dramatically increase wind noise. As the drag is increased (with flaps and gear) the engine thrust is increased to maintain the approach speed which will add even more noise.
All this noise together drowns out the Lion roaring in the hold!!
Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins (which works out at an average of around 33mph vertically)!!
"Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins"
The early jetliners certainly had the performance, I think it would be very interesting to see a comparison of the efficiency of modern airliners compared to the likes of comet, dc8, convair thingy, 707.
The early jetliners certainly had the performance, I think it would be very interesting to see a comparison of the efficiency of modern airliners compared to the likes of comet, dc8, convair thingy, 707.
i can't offer comparisons between old and new.
however, i have a pal who's an air eng on VC10's and he raves about them. max speed iirc is 0.98 mach.
he told me about a short flight from bristol to brize, low fuel and max noise on take off. apparently saw 2000ft altitude by the airfield perimeter.
and he thinks flying is boring
however, i have a pal who's an air eng on VC10's and he raves about them. max speed iirc is 0.98 mach.
he told me about a short flight from bristol to brize, low fuel and max noise on take off. apparently saw 2000ft altitude by the airfield perimeter.
and he thinks flying is boring
Mojocvh said:
"Might I just add that the 757 and 767 are beasts to fly. I have had an empty 767 reach 40,000 ft from take off in 12 mins"
The early jetliners certainly had the performance, I think it would be very interesting to see a comparison of the efficiency of modern airliners compared to the likes of comet, dc8, convair thingy, 707.
A bit rubbish frankly - they all had what were not very far away from fighter engines strapped to their wings. You can tell that they aren't very efficient by the massive trail of oily smoke they leave. The early jetliners certainly had the performance, I think it would be very interesting to see a comparison of the efficiency of modern airliners compared to the likes of comet, dc8, convair thingy, 707.
Simpo Two said:
The amount of gubbins that emerges from a wing on final approach is astonishing; you'd think it was dismantling itself.
And once all the bits are out it seems like the wing is empty and should fall apart. I've often wondered where the great big steel girders are that run from one wing tip to the other which the engines bolt onto... 
Quite strong for 'fat tin foil'.
Love the 757, first plane I ever flew on (BA on the Belfast-LHR shuttle) - thoroughly overpowered and just looks 'right' shame BA has retired them 
By the way the rumbling sound you refer to is the landing gear, 757s have 8 main wheels as opposed to narrowbody Airbuses or 737s which have 4 therefore more chop in the air
By the way the rumbling sound you refer to is the landing gear, 757s have 8 main wheels as opposed to narrowbody Airbuses or 737s which have 4 therefore more chop in the air
Edited by Turbodiesel1690 on Saturday 25th June 23:24
Thanks to everyone for the replies - I'm going with the landing gear as the cause of the noise as that seems the most logical explanation and would fit with the part of the landing sequence where the noise is present. Turbodiesel1690's suggestion that the 757's extra wheels would make the noise more noticable would explain why I haven't noticed the sound on 737s.
I have a bit of a soft spot for 757s as my first ever flying experience was on one (a Britannia example flying from MAN to NAP). I even bought one of the snap-fix models from the in-flight shop and still have it sat on top of a cabinet at home, now joined by a Jet2 one which I bought while flying home from PFO last Sunday!
The 757's distinctive buzzing engine noise is rather interesting too
I have a bit of a soft spot for 757s as my first ever flying experience was on one (a Britannia example flying from MAN to NAP). I even bought one of the snap-fix models from the in-flight shop and still have it sat on top of a cabinet at home, now joined by a Jet2 one which I bought while flying home from PFO last Sunday!
The 757's distinctive buzzing engine noise is rather interesting too
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