The red arrows...

[TNL]

Very random thread, but how loud are the red arrows, in decibels? Only asking this as i saw them fly over Minnis Bay on their way back from Manston a couple of weeks back and very loud! Was definetly a case of hear before you see

[Simpo Two]

Distant: See before you hear
Medium: Hear before you see
Close: See before you hear (the sound follows behind in a cone)

Weird eh?!

[scubadude]

Compared to full military aircraft at a show- not loud
Compared to commercial aircraft- loud

Loud is relative I suppose :-)

A few years ago I was at a Duxford show, all day jets, helicopters and warbirds, even the Red Arrows right over our heads and pretty "loud".
Towards the end a couple of current USAF jets (don't recall which) out of Mildenhall? did a simple flypast, staggered formation with seperation- once down the runway then once back.... midway back they both went vertical on what must have been max allowable power, possibly afterbruners? That was PROPER Loud, full on ground shaking, chest hurtingly loud with the accompaning tearing sound jet being properly rung out.

2 seconds after we'd all shook our ears clear, they where gone through the cloud base and ever car in the carparks alarm was going.

Jets are loud but when its a military aircraft giving it the beans a few hundred feet away directing the noise straight at you it's enough to hurt!

[mattdaniels]

You haven't heard ear piercingly loud until you've heard a Harrier do a vertical take off infront of you. That's absolute ear bleeding stuff.

[spitfire-ian]

mattdaniels said:

You haven't heard ear piercingly loud until you've heard a Harrier do a vertical take off infront of you. That's absolute ear bleeding stuff.

English Electric Lightning F.6 'XS904' by imulford, on Flickr

[markmullen]

Slightly o/t but we had one Red Arrow playing over Scarborough at lunchtime, smoke on, looked great fun but unusual just to see the one.

[Barletta]

When was this ? I was in scarborough today never seen a plane?I was at the beach front by the spa

[markmullen]

It was about 1pm over Ayton, was about for a good 10-15 minutes before heading South (presumably home).

[tank slapper]

The loudest aircraft I have heard taking off is the B1B. It was straight after Concorde, and it was louder - the sort of loud that makes your chest resonate so you can't breathe.

[jonny142]

tank slapper said:

The loudest aircraft I have heard taking off is the B1B. It was straight after Concorde, and it was louder - the sort of loud that makes your chest resonate so you can't breathe.

Yeh your right ..I saw about 3 B1-B's take off on a mission to Kosavo from Fairford about 1999 i think ..fully loaded with bombs and fuel..Full afterburners on until they were out of sight ...wow they WERE loud and am an airshow nurd !!..it was a lovely hot evening about 8-9ish.I remembered thinking there's people over there now that wont be alive in a few hours time ....strange feeling

[kiteless]

Reminds me of this clip (worth it just for the first minute or so):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VYwhzt8wiU&fea...

[tontoro]

Simpo Two said:

Close: See before you hear (the sound follows behind in a cone)

Weird eh?!

Not on a hawk

[Simpo Two]

tontoro said:

Not on a hawk

It's not supersonic but if one was heading straight towards you at 50 feet you'd get precious little warning.

[phil_h_88]

tank slapper said:

The loudest aircraft I have heard taking off is the B1B. It was straight after Concorde, and it was louder - the sort of loud that makes your chest resonate so you can't breathe.

Easily. Last year in the middle east I was on a taxiway nearish to a B1B taking off the noise was incredible. the ground was shaking, chest resonating and ears hurting despite having ear defs on. It was night so the afterburners looked pretty cool too

[roverspeed]

Definitly agree on the B1b Lancer, full afterburner at take off, you feel it rather than hear it!

[sackboy]

TNL said:

Very random thread, but how loud are the red arrows, in decibels? Only asking this as i saw them fly over Minnis Bay on their way back from Manston a couple of weeks back and very loud! Was definetly a case of hear before you see

The people of Thanet are going to be reminded what a loud aircraft really sounds like this weekend when the Vulcan does it's display.