Scaredflyer21 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 355 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 1822 times:
I just returned from a trip STL-MCO-STL this past week on WN. Both of the aircraft that I flew on were 733s. The first aircraft's engine noises were very loud and whiny, and you could easily hear the engine starting and spooling up. On the return leg, the aircraft's engines were much quieter and sounded very windy. What would cause such different engine noises on the same type of aircraft and airline? Has Southwest been upgrading their 733 engines?
Flyusairways From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 176 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1779 times:
Well, the noise from the engines depends on where you are sitting on the aircraft in relation to them. If you are in front of or next to the engines, you are more likely to hear the actual whine of the engines. If you are behind the engines and the wings, you will only hear the engines' exhaust, which makes the "windy" sound. I'm not sure where you were sitting on the aircraft, but it seems like you must have been in front of the engines on one flight, and behind them on the other.
I have a funny story with this one. My family and I would always get plane seats behind the wing on flights, and I always thought the engines sounded very quiet. On one American Boeing 757 flight out of DEN, however, we got seats in front of the engines, and on takeoff, that well-known Rolls-Royce whine scared me half to death! I thought the engines were failing. But, at least now I know better about what noises to expect!
Anyway, hope this information helps!
Cheers,
flyusairways
[Edited 2006-08-07 07:08:38]
All nonstop flights are direct, but not all direct flights are nonstop!
Scaredflyer21 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 355 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1762 times:
Thanks for the reply Flyusairways! Actually, on the first flight I was sitting about two rows behind the overwing exits, and on the second flight I was about 5 rows behind them. Thanks!
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5336 posts, RR: 11 Reply 3, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1757 times:
It can also have a LOT to do with winds. I noticed this lately- an ERJ sounds very 'airy' if there's funky winds going into the inlets.
Flyusairways From United States of America, joined Dec 2005, 176 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 1725 times:
It's amazing what a few rows' difference can do to the noises you hear on a plane. I've noticed on the a319 and a320 that even moving from the leading edge of the wing to the trailing edge of the wing will make it a lot more difficult to hear that distinct cfm-56 hum at idle (which I love ) and that lovely buzzsaw noise at takeoff (which is also music to my ears).
[Edited 2006-08-07 07:21:15]
All nonstop flights are direct, but not all direct flights are nonstop!
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 5, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1673 times:
737s, especially the newer ones like the 700 version are noisy by design. If you want a quiet plane, you're not going to find it in a 737.
Brons2 From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2969 posts, RR: 5 Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 19 hours ago) and read 1661 times:
Quoting AirWillie6475 (Reply 5): 737s, especially the newer ones like the 700 version are noisy by design. If you want a quiet plane, you're not going to find it in a 737.
The NG's are much quieter from the ground viewer's perspective on takeoff.
I live on the 17L/R approach path and the 35L/R takeoff path for AUS and we have tons of WN traffic. The NGs are way quieter on takeoff. Worst is the MD80 of American for pax traffic, and FedEx's DC-10.
Firings, if well done, are good for employee morale.
Socal From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 473 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1635 times:
AirWillie6475 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 2448 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 1631 times:
Quoting Socal (Reply 7): I cant wait to see the 300's with winglets.
Warreng24 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 682 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (6 years 9 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 1488 times:
Quoting Scaredflyer21 (Thread starter): What would cause such different engine noises on the same type of aircraft and airline?
Don't forget wear and tear.
Usually engine bearings make the most "whiny" noises. Maybe one 733 just had an engine overhaul and the other was just a few hours away from needing one.
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From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 355 posts, 
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