Author Topic: Airline pilots - could you FEEL the difference? (Read 501 times)

beet1e · « **on:** May 28, 2004, 07:20:49 AM »

In a previous life, I used to know a UAL baggage handler who worked at ORD. He had reached the point where he could tell which type of plane was approaching just by the sound. But it went beyond that. He could sometimes even tell which airline it belonged to. Back then, UAL was sharing facilities with BA in some cases (eg. at Denver, where BA was able to fly nonstop from London and use UAL gates etc.). I don't know whether that was the case at ORD, but this guy could tell when the approaching plane was a BA plane. How? Most carriers used P&W engines (?) but the British carriers used Rolls Royce engines, which sounded smoother, sweeter.

So my question is - as a pilot in the cockpit, would you be able to tell the difference between P&W and the arguably more refined Rolls Royce units?

Dago · « **Reply #1 on:** May 28, 2004, 03:55:36 PM »

Ypur friend is quite full of excrement.

It is not hard to tell some airplanes by sound, but not the airline. What a load.

dago

Dago · « **Reply #2 on:** May 28, 2004, 03:59:24 PM »

RR more refined? LOL.

BTW, pilots don't have to wonder, they tend to know what engines are on their aircraft, they have to look at the performance charts to plan takeoff power settings etc.

Still laughing at "more refined". Damn that is a good one. Does the engine hold out it's pinky while drinking jet fuel?

I have experience with GE, Pratts, SNECMA and RR engines. Don't be bragging up them RR if you don't know what your talking about.

dago

Gunslinger · « **Reply #3 on:** May 28, 2004, 04:05:18 PM »

I find it hard to beleive different airlines....unless you are going by schedule......but different planes...sure that's not hard after a while.

Creamo · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2004, 04:44:48 PM »

Your friend certainly could have Beetle, easily, down to the carrier, and plane type. Aren’t you asking about flight performance though?

beet1e · « **Reply #5 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:32:01 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Creamo
Your friend certainly could have Beetle, easily, down to the carrier, and plane type. Aren’t you asking about flight performance though?

Yes - that, and any other differences.

Dago · « **Reply #6 on:** May 28, 2004, 07:48:37 PM »

Down to the carrier? Bullchit.

A 757 with Pratt 2037 engines sounds the same regardless of livery.

Same for all the rest. Paint doesn't make it sound differant.

I can tell many types apart by sound, but haven't hear a paint job taxi by.

dago

SunTracker · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2004, 08:18:55 PM »

Quote

but this guy could tell when the approaching plane was a BA plane. How? Most carriers used P&W engines (?) but the British carriers used Rolls Royce engines, which sounded smoother, sweeter.

Still listening for engine sound.

beet1e · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2004, 08:24:29 PM »

As I said, the British carriers (BA, Virgin) use RR engines. But UAL does not - uses P&W instead? As there were no Virgin Atlantic planes using the UAL facilities at that time, my friend knew that if he heard RR engines, they'd be attached to a BA plane. Nothing to do with paint, just a simple process of deduction.

Toodle-Pip!

Dago · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2004, 08:45:55 PM »

I can believe if you know that only one carrier is running a certain combo airframe/engine at a field, you could identify it, but your original post didn't give that impression.

Quote

He had reached the point where he could tell which type of plane was approaching just by the sound. But it went beyond that. He could sometimes even tell which airline it belonged to.

So, yes, a person who is on the line long enough could tell differant planes by hearing, and if you know only one carrier runs a certain type at that field, it would be possible to identify it. But not without that specific knowledge.

dago

Toad · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2004, 10:44:29 PM »

I remember the sound of RB211 main bearings going out back in the late 80's when I flew the L-1011.

Does that count?

It never happened often enough on a Pratt or a GE to memorize the sound though.

NUKE · « **Reply #11 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:23:14 PM »

was it a "refined" sound Toad?

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:34:36 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Toad
I remember the sound of RB211 main bearings going out back in the late 80's when I flew the L-1011.

Does that count?

It never happened often enough on a Pratt or a GE to memorize the sound though.

PWN463

Lizking · « **Reply #13 on:** May 28, 2004, 11:51:39 PM »

Naw, Funked, this is PwNDed:

was it a "refined" sound Toad?

beet1e · « **Reply #14 on:** May 29, 2004, 02:41:15 AM »

Dago - oh, OK then. What I actually said was

Quote

Back then, UAL was sharing facilities with BA in some cases

The only British long haul carriers to the USA that I know about are BA and Virgin, and Virgin does not operate a service to ORD. And I gained the impression that UAL did not share its facilities/gates etc. with any other carrier except BA. Therefore, and planes that pulled up where my friend worked were either UAL or BA. Sorry that wasn't clear in the initial post. Hehe, I'll admit it was a bit of a troll.

;)

Mr. T! Six of us got together in London last night to meet your man Curval. I sat next to Curval. He was telling me that... erm... I get mentioned on the 13thTAS website - made my freaking night! I've been grinning from ear to ear ever since - whatever it was that was said about me.