I read in the Observer this week that Gary Numan also like iSequence, his favorite film is The Battle of Britain, and the thing he likes most apart from music, is second world war aircraft. No mention of lurking about at airfields recording aircraft though. Three out of four then, not bad. If Gary’s out there and fancies giving it a try, I’d be more than happy to share a warm sunny English afternoon fussing over recording Merlins.
Category: aircraft
I’ve updated my aircraft recordings site with a list by engine type. Look no further than http://www.field-recording.org.uk/aircraft-engines/ for sounds of Merlins and Griffons!
I’ve uploaded a new recording of the Kennet Aviation Supermarine Seafire on my field-recording website.
More information available from my field-recording Supermarine Seafire page.
The Bristol f.2b Fighter makes one of my favourite aircraft sounds. Each time I record it I discover another facet of the complex soundscape it generates. The sounds the Rolls-Royce Falcon III on this machine makes sounds like the whine of a supercharger when you get downwind of it flying but I think this is the sound of the epicyclic gearing, which I think in itself is a unique feature in an engine this early.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
The picture below was taken during the display.
Bristol Fighter, August 2009
I recorded this safety briefing a couple of weeks ago on the EasyJet bus at Glasgow. The Stewardess recited the whole 2 ish minutes without once looking at any kind of paperwork – impressive. If you are familiar with this recital then you can easily visualise the gesticulations of the flight attendants and the bored resignation of the aloof ‘frequent flyers’ cradling their free papers.
Display from a de Havilland Vampire T.11, WZ507 based at North Weald, Essex at the Little Gransden Airshow in 2009. Operated by the Vampire Preservation Group
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
de Havilland Vampire T.11 WZ507 spectrogram
Vampire Preservation Group Vampire T.11
A sound recording of P-51 Mustang “Janie” recorded in August 2009.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
And a spectrogram of the recording.
P-51 Mustang Janie Spectrogram
Sound recording of a recently rebuilt P-51 Mustang “Marinell” at the 2009 Little Gransden Airshow.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
And a spectrogram of the recording.
P51 Mustang Marinelle Spectrogram
2 sound recordings of Spartan Executive aircraft, considered the Lear Jet of the 1930s, popular with US Oil Corporations and owned by the very wealthy.
First recording is of 2 Executives taking off.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Spectrogram of Spartan Executive take off
Second recording of 2 aircraft in a display. The two aircraft are discernible by the note of the engine/propeller, obviously a radial.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Spectrogram of 2 Spartan Executive in display
One of the aircraft is based (as far as I know) at Little Gransden. In the display is the leading aircraft.
Another recording on my new web site http://www.field-recording.org.uk/hawker-demon-august-2009/