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Something unusual I saw in the sky

S

stansdds

SOH-CM-2025
So yesterday I'm out in my yard spraying weed killer. I hear this strange and very loud noise. I look up and see a twin engine aircraft approaching, likely headed to Chesterfield County Airport (Virginia). As it passes over, probably a good 2000 feet AGL, the sound is obnoxious and I love the sound of most aircraft. It's shape was odd, not like most light twins. The canard was quite obvious and distinctive. So I looked it up and this is what I saw.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piaggio_P.180_Avanti
 
Avanti's sound like no other P&W PT-6 powered twin. I think it's a combination of the 5 bladed (or is it 6?) pusher prop and the exhaust stack's flow hitting said prop that makes the difference.

If you want Really loud and obnoxious. Try an MU-2. When I worked the airport, you could always tell when an MU-2 was around. Even with hearing protection on.


Brian
 
Yep,I posted a couple of months ago when one flew over me after taking of in Kansas City,loud ain't the word.Pretty though.:d
 
stansdds said:
Oh, yeah, sleek as all get out. Found an FSX freeware P.180, I'll have to try it out.
Click to expand...

Beware: It's a portover, but nonetheless excellent work by Mario Noriega.
It's a fun plane to fly, once you fix the fuel selector.
 
There are alot of these things flying around. A fractional company has a whole fleet of them, their call sign is Avanti.
 
One flies occassionally over my house, heading towards DFW. The unique sound is a giveaway every time; B-36s and other planes with pusher propellers made a similiar sound due to the propellers being in the slipstream of the wing and fusalage.

-James
 
Had an Avanti sitting on the ramp here at KILG a month or so ago. Not all that big but impressive to say the least. Nice looking too once you get up close and can walk around it a few times.

As for engine noise, it doesn't sound as bad as the Air Force's C-17. Now that thing will scare the pants off ya. They're always flying around here, and it makes you look as you think something is about to fall out of the air.
 
Yeah...Avantis come and go from YVR here. A distinctive sound for sure, always catches my attention. Neat plane to watch, looks like science fiction.

What was that big twin built by Beechcraft, the swept wing pusher with canards? I've never seen one of those live. That'd be a treat. Anybody know the plane, maybe seen one? How did it sound?
 
magoo said:
What was that big twin built by Beechcraft, the swept wing pusher with canards? I've never seen one of those live. That'd be a treat. Anybody know the plane, maybe seen one? How did it sound?
Click to expand...

Beech Starship? Didn't they buy (or try to buy) all of them back?
 
AckAck said:
Beech Starship? Didn't they buy (or try to buy) all of them back?
Click to expand...

Yes they did, and they destroyed them. They were warehousing them at Wichita Intercontinental Airport in Kansas, and the entire ramp near Yingling FBO was overflowing with them. Then, one day, they were gone....
 
magoo said:
What was that big twin built by Beechcraft, the swept wing pusher with canards? I've never seen one of those live. That'd be a treat. Anybody know the plane, maybe seen one? How did it sound?
Click to expand...

I had seen a Starship fly over a couple of times. At high altitude. It was SOOOOOOO loud. I found out later why pusher props such as the Beech Starship and Avanti are so loud. The air flow differentiation between the top of the wing (faster) and bottom of the wing (slower) causes a frequency from the blades cutting into them which becomes a terribly shrill sound.

One guy didnt sell his Starship. He is glad he did. Still flying.


Bill
 
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