Benefits...

[LewisM]

Being an aviation NUT, there were always benefits to moving to a place that is basically under 1 mile final approach for RWY 36 at YBMC. Usual A320's and 737's, C-17's and even the occasional P-51 Mustang.

Today was one of the better ones. I HEARD the first one, so I rushed out to our balcony. I SAW the second one - RAAF F/A-18 (not sure if an F or original A - but SEEMED it was an A) - he'd held it down for the length of RWY 18 at Maroochy, then pulled it up out of the dirt and opened it wide (typical gulping spool up then roar). Headed straight for Amberley at a great rate of knots and greater range of decibels :)

Gotta love it :)

[cometcatcher]

I used to live within 1 Km of YBMK in the 1970's. In those days all the jets were as loud as bell. The DC9's would rattle the windows and shake the house every morning at takeoff. Now days you can hardly hear the more silent varieties. I bought an aircraft receiver so I could listen in and had that as a hobby for years. Not a lot of military traffic here though. Sometimes the odd army chopper. You can hear them coming a long way off. The military don't care much for noise suppression. :P

[PeterEde]

the Super hornets are at Amberley I would suspect it was one of them.
Another aviation nut here too.
nearly 20 years working in and for the RAAF. Miss my P3s :( Will miss them more soon.

[omegacrux]

I like going up to my parents place for holidays
They live at Port Stephens F18's fly over there all the time , coming and going from AFB at Newcastle you can here them from a long way off
Plus you can park right at the end of the runway and watch from there . Cool

David

[hotspur]

They might have been practicing for 'Riverfire' fireworks night that is tonight Lewis,my son went into town yesterday,and snapped a few images zooming around. Here is one,that he took.Note the wing tip decorations,and no external fuel pods.one looks like a dummy sidewinder,not sure what the other one is without fins.Also 'clasp' thing between engines,not sure if that is a the hook used when landing on carriers.

[Hans Tucker]

Super Hornets based in Amberley are F's and they are significantly louder than the A's (Classic Hornet) at Williamtown

[LewisM]

True that - perhaps they COULD have been A's up on an exercise :)

Chris, the Australian F/A-18's retain the arrestor hook from the Naval version, and it has been found to be beneficial, with a few having to trap on landing due to brake failures etc (Amberley still has the arrestor cables, as does WIlliamtown). The F-111 also used the system.

[pgc hunter]

I can definitely vouch for this. I saw an FA/18F display at the Avalon Airshow, followed by an F-16. The F-16 almost seemed "quiet" in comparison.

The Super Hornets are very, very LOUD!

[Hans Tucker]

Apparently the F-35 is going to be even louder...and it's only a single engine. F/A-18F at Mil Power is 119dB where as the F-35 is 121 dB. You would think engine technology over the years would have developed a quieter engine but I guess being military they are not bound by the same regulations as civilian aircraft..

[sharpiel]

My fiancé and I go to the Melbourne Airshow which is on every second year (next in 2015) and also the airshow at Temora. Magnificent to watch all the military and other aircraft being put through their paces. Have seen the F-35 and F-22's this way amongst many others including the Spitfire (to me one of the most beautiful planes to look at). Will never forget the USAF pilot getting the F-22 to walk on its tail fins the length of the runway at Avalon 100 meters off the ground then screech back down the runway at speed.

Love the sound of V8's and V12's racing..? The sound of military jet aircraft is on another level completely. Absolutely amazing...Makes me wonder what it would be like to have been at Cape Kennedy to witness a Saturn V lift off :question: Awe inspiring I bet!

[Hans Tucker]

I lived on the base for 8 years and the sound of an F/A18A taking off on full AB was incredible and the view impressive if you watch them takeoff at the end of the runway...the end near Fighter World.

Something like this but being more closeup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbec9tPeqBs

[omegacrux]

That's where I got the photo of the plane landing in this month's challenge I thought it was an
A4 Skyhawk but not sure someone can chime in be appreciated
Re fighter world great little museum been a couple of times

David

[pgc hunter]

I've heard that too. Also heard that the F-22 is supposed to be louder than the FA/18F, if that is at all possible! If I remember correctly the F-22 display at last year's Avalon Airshow was cancelled because the only pilot in the world certified to do display runs in the aircraft at the time was called to duty.

I didn't attend the last 2 airshows, but will attend next year's... making it a 6 year drought... I hope to see some new stuff!




Yep, the noise of those fighters is remarkable. Literally ear shattering. As a kid at my very first airshow in 1995, I wanted to GTFO of there ASAP!!! But these days, being an aviation enthusiast, I relish it. Last couple airshows I've attended... I've become nostalgic for the smells and sounds. The screech of an F1 engine is one thing, but a full AB pass of a Hornet or Eagle is something else.... and a full AB pass of a Super Hornet is something else on an entirely new level....

[LewisM]

David, your image shows a Hawk 127 lead-in fighter/trainer.

[barx1963]

No I was there and it was doing all sorts of things over the runway, and here are some pics I took!

[omegacrux]

Thanks Lewis
Yup that's the one

David

[rat156]

I lived 500 m from the flightily in Kandahar. Saw just about everything there, usually at low altitude, but on occasions when I was flying somewhere, quite close up on the ramp.

But, you do get sick of the 2 am flyby which makes your accommodation shake. And the C130's going through preflight check and the AC130 Spectre on a training mission nearby, oh hang on, I never got sick of that, awe inspiring that one, as long as you're at the right end of the display.

I never got tired of going outside during the day and looking up, there was pretty much always something in the air, fixed or rotary wing, from all parts of the world too.

Cheers
Stuart