The plane enthusiasts thread

[MichaelW2]

Has anyone tuned their ears to ID a modern military jet by sound.
I could always tell a Tornado from tbe "sound of freedom" F15 flying out of sight. I really have no idea what a Typhoon or F35 sounds like.

 

[classic33]

Seen on the way home from the library yesterday. Airbus Helicopters H135. Northwest Air Ambulance. Approximately 1600 hrs. It didn't show up on Flightradar, though it took off and came back a couple of times later. Nothing on the local news yet. A bit mysterious.
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https://www.airnavradar.com/data/mode-s/4067BF

 

[Yellow Fang]

Which was more important to Britain's WW2 war effort: the Hurricane or the Spitfire? The Spitfire was the better aircraft and was developed throughout the war, but the Hurricane was more available during the early days of the war when the fighting (for us) was fiercest. I have been wondering for about fifty years.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Should the Air Ministry have continued with the Westland Whirwind rather than the Hawker Typhoon? The Whirlwind had its problems, but they were nearer solving than the Typhoon's. I think a lot came down to engines. Rolls Royce did not want to put much resource into the Peregrines. Meanwhile, Napier were working hard on the Sabre and Rolls Royce on the Vulture. The Vulture failed and the Sabre was late. I think I would have opted for the Whirlwind myself.

 

[Yellow Fang]

Were the British heavy bombers (Lancaster, Halifax, Stirling) overmanned? The Mosquitos did great work with a crew of two. Did the heavy bombers really need a crew of seven?

 

[DaveReading]

Were the British heavy bombers (Lancaster, Halifax, Stirling) overmanned? The Mosquitos did great work with a crew of two. Did the heavy bombers really need a crew of seven?

Courtesy of the IWM, these were the crew roles (most on board had dual or reserve roles in addition to their primary function):

pilot/captain
navigator
bomb-aimer/reserve pilot
flight engineer/reserve bomb-aimer/pilot's assistant (during takeoff & landing)
wireless operator/reserve gunner
mid-upper turret gunner
tail-turret gunner

I'm not sure the comparison between a Mosquito and any of the heavy bombers tells us much.

https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/whos-who-in-an-raf-bomber-crew

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Were the British heavy bombers (Lancaster, Halifax, Stirling) overmanned? The Mosquitos did great work with a crew of two. Did the heavy bombers really need a crew of seven?

Normal Mossy bomb load was 2000lbs
some modified versions could carry 4000 lbs - i.e. one cookie but with a lot stripped out including the gune

not the same thing as a Lanc etc

they could not have carried a tallboy or grand slam

they also didn;t have the same long range

but their survivability was far better
as far as building is concerned they were wooden so could be made in small workshops all over the place
but needed skilled workers

Lancs needed metal (Al) so needed big factories which were easier to bomb but it was easier to train new workers

they were different - I have always thought more Mossies would have been a good idea and the "lancs are what we need" was possibly a bit "tunnel vision"

but hindsight is always a better view of things that doing it at the time under fire

 

[gbb]

Has anyone tuned their ears to ID a modern military jet by sound.
I could always tell a Tornado from tbe "sound of freedom" F15 flying out of sight. I really have no idea what a Typhoon or F35 sounds like.

There are certain aircraft you either know what they are...or are not.
Typhoons, A400M, Spits/Hurricanes/Mustangs are easy, Lancaster while Merlin engined carries a heavier note so is quite easy, Texan trainers, radial engined carry a different sound, the RAF Grob trainers are quite distinct..obv some of those are prop driven so not relevant I suppose.
Once it gets to US stuff, their jets carry a different sound so I always.know it's not a Typhoon but don't know if it's a F15,16, 18 or whatever. Imagine a Typhoon roar, its low,the US jets have a higher pitch.
Having heard and seen a Vampire close up, they're a very distinct whistle sound, you wouldn't forget that one.

 

[Andy in Germany]

I really have no idea what a Typhoon or F35 sounds like.

That's because they're stealth planes.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

There are certain aircraft you either know what they are...or are not.
Typhoons, A400M, Spits/Hurricanes/Mustangs are easy, Lancaster while Merlin engined carries a heavier note so is quite easy, Texan trainers, radial engined carry a different sound, the RAF Grob trainers are quite distinct..obv some of those are prop driven so not relevant I suppose.
Once it gets to US stuff, their jets carry a different sound so I always.know it's not a Typhoon but don't know if it's a F15,16, 18 or whatever. Imagine a Typhoon roar, its low,the US jets have a higher pitch.
Having heard and seen a Vampire close up, they're a very distinct whistle sound, you wouldn't forget that one.

At air shows my Dad and I could always tell the Yank planes by the huge cloud of smoke behind them

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

That's because they're stealth planes.

The F35 is so stealthy you literally cannot see it in broad daylight when you are standing in front of it

or so I heard
(the source may not be reliable)

 

[Andy in Germany]

The F35 is so stealthy you literally cannot see it in broad daylight when you are standing in front of it

or so I heard
(the source may not be reliable)

That's true: there are twelve in this picture.

 

[Bristolian]

Has anyone tuned their ears to ID a modern military jet by sound.
I could always tell a Tornado from tbe "sound of freedom" F15 flying out of sight. I really have no idea what a Typhoon or F35 sounds like.

I'm pretty good at recognising military helicopter types but that might be because I was usually waiting for one to come and get me out a sticky situation (of my own making)

 

[steveindenmark]

I get F35s flying over every day. 😁

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Monday 24th @ 12:56

Chinook just passed overhead, in a south-westerly direction