Did you know that registration to Fighter Control is completely free and brings you lots of added features? Find out more....

Which is noisier?

A forum for discussing all things related to MILITARY AVIATION including Military Aviation news. No off-topic discussions here please.
Unknown74
Posts: 3946
Joined: Mon Nov 16, 2009 12:13 pm

Which is noisier?

Post by Unknown74 » Wed May 18, 2022 7:18 am

Hi guys & gals, quick question which is noisier an F-15 Eagle of both variations (Eagle & Strike Eagle) or an F-35 Lightning II? Same question which noisier a Tornado GR.4 or F-35B Lightning II, question directed to spotters at Lakenheath and Marham, or anyone who has recently spotted at both?

User avatar
reaper493
Moderator
Posts: 12307
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:05 pm
Location: Waddington

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by reaper493 » Wed May 18, 2022 8:01 am

From experience I'd say the F35, but a quick Google says that the F-15 is 149 decibels and the F35 only 115

Snoop 95
Posts: 1885
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:17 pm
Location: West Suffolk

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Snoop 95 » Wed May 18, 2022 8:04 am

The F35B certainly takes the prize for the noisiest of all in my experience, but I live about 10 miles from Lakenheath and I can feel the ground shake when the F35A departs, whereas the F15's do not have that effect. GR4 - no contest!

User avatar
toom317
Posts: 1936
Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:31 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by toom317 » Wed May 18, 2022 8:25 am

Something I recall from the past I read about Gutesloh, when the Lightnings left. The locals were happy as they were noisy and although the Harriers were quieter, they soon found out the noise went on a lot longer as they were slower.
No one gets out of life alive.



Equipment: Camera, Lens, Goretex Y fronts

Stroudy
Posts: 867
Joined: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Fairford Town

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Stroudy » Wed May 18, 2022 9:14 am

Its more about depth of the sound and physical power than the decibels I think. The F-35 may give less db, but it has more ground shaking ability (power) which hits you physically.. often in the chest or just on the deep edge of frequencies we can detect, making it appear 'louder'.

Philwinward
Posts: 315
Joined: Fri Oct 25, 2013 12:05 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Philwinward » Wed May 18, 2022 9:52 am

Stroudy wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:14 am
Its more about depth of the sound and physical power than the decibels I think. The F-35 may give less db, but it has more ground shaking ability (power) which hits you physically.. often in the chest or just on the deep edge of frequencies we can detect, making it appear 'louder'.
My Border Collie reacts to the F35 but not F15 so your comment could be correct.

Canberra TT.18
Posts: 307
Joined: Tue May 26, 2015 9:11 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Canberra TT.18 » Wed May 18, 2022 11:42 am

Philwinward wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:52 am
Stroudy wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 9:14 am
Its more about depth of the sound and physical power than the decibels I think. The F-35 may give less db, but it has more ground shaking ability (power) which hits you physically.. often in the chest or just on the deep edge of frequencies we can detect, making it appear 'louder'.
My Border Collie reacts to the F35 but not F15 so your comment could be correct.
I have the same experience, the few times I saw and heard F-35A.
After starting the sound of a Lightning II seems to remain in the air much longer compared to F-16 and F-18 eg.
The F-35 is belly shaken which almost makes you feel sick.

User avatar
cat1
Posts: 359
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2021 11:40 am
Location: EGTE

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by cat1 » Wed May 18, 2022 12:29 pm

my first intoduction to an f35 was unrestricted at the heath
the video reveals the combination of surprise and shock :D
Cheap cameras aren't good. Good cameras aren't cheap

gyvespa
Posts: 473
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:49 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by gyvespa » Wed May 18, 2022 1:27 pm

Slightly off topic but.

Bruntingthorpe.
EE Lightning x2
Afterburners
Even wearing ear defenders and plugs they were still LOUD !
The sort of noise that shakes you bones and blurs your vision.
A girl standing close by looked visibly shaken after they’d passed, perhaps she should have worn those earplugs they handed out when you paid to enter.

Air show wise. I always thought the B1 was louder than the Vulcan, it had more of a crackle than a thunderous roar.

Anyone remember the 135 flameout/backfire at one of the Air Fetes ? That got people’s attention.

The jet dragster at Santa Pod was always a bit much. But still not as loud as the Nitro Burning Top Fuel Harley. I’d describe that as standing next to artillery.

I’m surprised my ears still work after 40+ years of motorcycle racing and air shows.

Pardon ?

User avatar
Knife 04
Posts: 3407
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:05 pm
Location: 'Up the smoke doin' a deal'

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Knife 04 » Wed May 18, 2022 4:45 pm

gyvespa wrote:
Wed May 18, 2022 1:27 pm

Anyone remember the 135 flameout/backfire at one of the Air Fetes ? That got people’s attention.
The compressor stall? - cannot remember it actually being that loud?

Good video of it in this article here - need to scroll down it a bit

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... eoffs-ever

User avatar
reheat module
Posts: 2906
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:59 pm
Location: Often UK

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by reheat module » Wed May 18, 2022 5:25 pm

Having first hand experience of adjusting the reheat running line on Tornado GR1 and 4 MECUs (stood directly under the intakes) and then stepping away, I can assure you ... them things is noisy !
UK ONS CPI Rate checker for Sept every year... :whistle:

raptor9
Posts: 1552
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2019 10:52 am

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by raptor9 » Wed May 18, 2022 8:45 pm

Had a compressor stall when a passenger in a Boeing 720 [Monarch Airlines]. Just happened to be looking out of the window at the time. Impressive flame and a loud bang!!. Slightly worrying at the time!.

gyvespa
Posts: 473
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:49 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by gyvespa » Thu May 19, 2022 5:56 am

Regarding the video linked above.

I was standing with a mate at a stall behind the Control Tower and the ‘backfire’ happened just as the aircraft rose above the buildings. It wasn’t incredibly loud but it did make all the people nearby do that cartoonish ‘freeze what they are doing whilst looking up’ thing.
The building may well have contributed to the effect by muffling the sound just before the incident.

It wasn’t as loud as the bang we had recently. A local Electricity Substation exploded, it did actually rattle the windows in their frames. From what I’ve been told it blew the gates off and damaged some cars nearby. Certainly heard that, Much louder than the usual fireworks we get on Bonfire Night ( +/- two months to include practice and New Year ).

podge
Posts: 1070
Joined: Fri May 14, 2010 5:39 pm
Location: Walsham-le-Willows, Suffolk

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by podge » Thu May 19, 2022 6:38 am

I took my Jack Russel to Marham for the Tornado farewell.

He didn’t bat an eye lid with all the Tornado’s departing but when an F-35 went up he absolutely s**t himself.

kenskyhawk
Posts: 25
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2018 3:12 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by kenskyhawk » Thu May 19, 2022 7:35 am

Worked on Lightning's at Coltishall for four years in my RAF days, never went near them without ear defenders. But easily the noisiest earth shaking body jelly I have ever experienced was standing on the mound at Mildenhall on the Sunday after the 69 show when the B-58 Hustler departed. Even B-1's don't get close.

tm74sqn
Posts: 1605
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2011 3:27 pm
Location: Oxfordshire

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by tm74sqn » Thu May 19, 2022 8:20 am

Yes, I was there too, but not on the mound but further along the fence. Good to remember that part of a rather sad journey (I was on the way to Norwich to see my Dad who died a couple of days later).

gyvespa
Posts: 473
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2009 4:49 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by gyvespa » Thu May 19, 2022 8:57 am

‘Body Jelly’
You should copyright that.
It sums up the sensation just about right.
It’s a bit like the Roadrunner cartoon where Wile E Coyote eats the Acme Earthquake Pills.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x82yjdt

That’s all folks.

User avatar
roughcutter
Posts: 2111
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:47 pm
Location: Widnes, Cheshire

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by roughcutter » Thu May 19, 2022 10:38 am

My snoring (apparently). :roll: I no longer twin-share now. :P

User avatar
Pete Da Bear
Posts: 136
Joined: Thu Sep 17, 2015 9:50 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by Pete Da Bear » Thu May 19, 2022 12:47 pm

As people are saying it's not just the decibels with the F35A but the ground shaking shock waves. I've found that with the F35B. On hover / slow approach landing, there is a very unpleasant body churning shock wave.as well as the unholy racket.

wdh
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2018 1:42 pm

Re: Which is noisier?

Post by wdh » Thu May 19, 2022 1:31 pm

I would have loved to hear the sr-71 take-off at mildenhall...sadly missed that..
As Brian Shul (Author of Sled Driver) said "it would shake your skeletal system something cronic" :)

Post Reply

Return to “The Fighter Control Mess”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Red-Eye-Knight and 87 guests