Flew on a brand new American 787-900

Ever get stuck in the very back of a DC-9/MD-80? I had the most useless "window" seat ever to exist, I lifted the shade and got nothing but engine. If the window could have been opened I could have easily touched the nacelle.
It was a three hour flight and nauseatingly loud, a pair of noise-cancelling headphones would have been a wise investment.
Yep, the view out the window is mostly engine and you have a nice view of the fan spinning while entertaining thoughts of what an uncontained failure might involve for you.
Unreal noise level as well.
 
I am not sensitive to sounds but I would like to understand, which airline (airplane) that you guys have flown that were noisy? I have NEVER experienced a noisy airplane...

before the age of 12, as a family, we would fly internationally 3-4 times a year, granted there was a big gap in flying from 1999-2013, I just haven't came across noisy airplanes.
I used to absolutely hate flying in an MD-80. They are super noisy. The first time I flew on one, I thought something was wrong with the aircraft, to make it that noisy. I quickly learned to avoid flights on an MD-80.
 
All you lucky fliers on your fancy planes.;) All I ever get when being sent here or there for work is the rear of cattle class on a CRJ. Ugh.
 
I remember reading about at least 1 UEF involving a DC-9 in which there were casualties.
This event has happened a number of times over the years this Douglas design was operated.
Not many DC-9/MD80s left in service, with only the 717 remaining in decent numbers.
 
All you lucky fliers on your fancy planes.;) All I ever get when being sent here or there for work is the rear of cattle class on a CRJ. Ugh.
Cattle class of a CRJ is often significantly nicer than cattle class of a mainline narrow body. No middle seats in a CRJ cattle class. Additionally, less pax often means less hassle.

Only exception is a CRJ 200 (removed from AA fleet last April), that is just an uncomfortable aircraft.
 
Hawaiian Air still relies on the 717 as island hoppers. Successfully navigate the kink in the aisle between the "first" class and coach sections, have a seat and enjoy your POG juice. Noisy, but a short flight.

Hopefully you didn't get bombed by the stray birds in the inter-island terminal at HNL before boarding, but it was your chance to experience living in a space from the 70s again, before boarding a plane whose bones were first put pencil-to-paper long prior to that.

Having recently watched the doc on the Titan sub implosion, what comes to mind is if the maintenance/duty requirements are different for the plastic fantastic planes, as nice and refined as they are?

From the cabin, the wings on the 787 and A350 are much smoother and look organic.
 
Having recently watched the doc on the Titan sub implosion, what comes to mind is if the maintenance/duty requirements are different for the plastic fantastic planes, as nice and refined as they are?
Carbon fiber and other composites are very strong under tension (pressure from the inside of a vessel), much less so under compression (pressure from the outside). That's why those in the know were critical of the use of composites for the Titan sub, they knew it was a ticking time bomb.
 
Carbon fiber and other composites are very strong under tension (pressure from the inside of a vessel), much less so under compression (pressure from the outside). That's why those in the know were critical of the use of composites for the Titan sub, they knew it was a ticking time bomb.
I found more to it than just that after speaking with the right folks up there …
 
Carbon fiber and other composites are very strong under tension (pressure from the inside of a vessel), much less so under compression (pressure from the outside). That's why those in the know were critical of the use of composites for the Titan sub, they knew it was a ticking time bomb.
We are talking roughly 5500 psi hydrostatic at the Titanic location …
Not sure how much the documentary claims … but hoping my next Dreamliner flight has something lower 🧐
 
We are talking roughly 5500 psi hydrostatic at the Titanic location …
Not sure how much the documentary claims … but hoping my next Dreamliner flight has something lower 🧐
12 PSI is about the maximum an airliner experiences at cruising altitude if that makes you feel better. 😉
 
Carbon fiber and other composites are very strong under tension (pressure from the inside of a vessel), much less so under compression (pressure from the outside). That's why those in the know were critical of the use of composites for the Titan sub, they knew it was a ticking time bomb.

I was aware of that, but thinking more in terms of any differences in the general care of the air frame and comparative lifetime expectations.

I've had such idle thoughts while looking out the window as the wing flexed during turbulence.

(Though yes, I know they're designed to do that. One vivid memory of visiting the Boeing Everett plant was the wing tests shown in the short film they played in the double-wide that used to serve as part of the tour, before taking the bus to the overlook in the main building).
 
I am not sensitive to sounds but I would like to understand, which airline (airplane) that you guys have flown that were noisy? I have NEVER experienced a noisy airplane...

before the age of 12, as a family, we would fly internationally 3-4 times a year, granted there was a big gap in flying from 1999-2013, I just haven't came across noisy airplanes.
Md-80 but that was many years ago.
 
The 787 is a very quiet airplane. For those who complain about not feeling well after flying, I recommend the 787.

Lower noise = lower fatigue.

Lower cabin altitude = better oxygenation and lower fatigue/illness
 
Where you are matters in a big wide body. Had seats in the middle of 2-2-2 and by the wing in the A380 … big difference …
 
Airbus website:

“The A350’s cabin is also the quietest on a twin-aisle aircraft, and its advanced technology delivers the highest possible air quality with optimised cabin altitude (6,000 ft.), optimum temperature and humidity, with the air being renewed every two to three minutes.”
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom