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I don't know why this myth is so popular that you can hear airplanes flying overhead. When I can see contrails coming from the aircraft flying overhead, usually I can't hear the aircraft, because contrails typically form at higher altitudes (maybe above 26,000 feet), and at that distance, the noise level is so minimal that if you live in a city like I do, the background noise of the city masks whatever low noise level might have reached the ground, so you literally can't hear the plane.
originally posted by: musicismagic
Seems that it would have been pretty noisy. Any talk on the noisyness of the plane?
Airplanes fly very high in the air. Sound pressure level decreases, the further away you are from the source.
...
All the way at ground level, the sound pressure level would be about 48db, which is audible, but it's pretty close to the base noise level in many areas outside. So if there is any sound in your environment, from wind, birds chirping, cars in the distance, kids screaming at the playground a quarter mile away, and such, there is not much chance you will hear the airplane. In a city you wouldn't notice it, but if you're in a still meadow with no animals or wind you would hear it.
I can see a resemblance there. I'm not sure what other planes might be shaped like that though.
originally posted by: Violater1
a reply to: EternalShadow
That's a B-21
Yes, it doesn't surprise me you can hear them in a quiet place, but even when you can hear them, would you describe them as "pretty noisy" as when MiM said "Seems that it would have been pretty noisy."? When I've heard them in quiet places, I still wouldn't say they were "pretty noisy", maybe I even had to strain a bit to hear them at all, or could only hear them when the birds stopped singing.
originally posted by: Ghoul
a reply to: Arbitrageur
That’s funny because I live in a very quiet place, and when it is dead silent I can hear in the background airliners when they’re cruising, between 30k and 40k ft.
I could also hear some fighter jet cruising cruising at 42 000ft.
I guess it all depends on how quiet is the place you’re at. But in a populated area or city, yeah there’s no way to hear them.
originally posted by: Ghoul
a reply to: cmdrkeenkid
It would seems more probable yes, the B-21 haven't flown yet and probably will roll out with a public announcement like the B2.
So the idea of the 180 seems coherent but I think it is not in test anymore and is operational for a couple of years now.
But it could also be something completely different ^^