Mxsmanic wrote in
:

B A R R Y writes:

On my recent viewing of the A380 low and slow passes over some P&W
locations, I remarked how quiet the airplane was. During these
passes the aircraft was noticeably pitched up (maybe 150 knots?), and
slightly "dirty", just as the far simpler craft I usually fly might
be in a similar "slow flight" situation. I've been told by P&W
employees that the plane was loaded up with ballast, and far from
light.

The most common remark I get from non-pilots on the lack of noise is
"he was at idle", as they compare it to a plane descending. My
response is that the 380 was maneuvering and maintaining altitude,
which would require more than idle power, maybe a lot more, just like
a smaller craft being flown in it's own version of slow flight.

Am I thinking along the correct lines, that an airliner at a decent
weight would require more than idle power to maneuver and maintain a
constant altitude while slow? I have zero jet time, but this would
only make sense. The Pratt guys agree with me, but they haven't
flown airliners either.

More than idle would be required, but not necessarily a lot more.


You're an idiot and you don't fly.




Remember also that the aircraft is further away than it looks, and
modern high-bypass turbofans can be remarkably quiet. Have you
compared the A380 directly to other aircraft in similar
configurations? If they are recent, they are probably pretty quiet,
too.


Someone here has flown 'Busses with very high bypas engines and knows
exactly how much thrust is required to maintain slow, level, flight.

And it isn't you.


Bertie