Do you Rotax dudes think these 912s are harder on your ears than low RPM craft?

Three letters: ANR

I've got em. Maybe ANR doesn't work as well at higher pitches?

I would give you a report in the future but I already have hearing damage from all the chainsaws, skidders, dozers ,and loaders run without proper hearing protection. Constant ringing. You take a lot for granted when you are 20 years old.

Food for thought: Rotax engines were designed in Europe where noise restrictions on everything, including aircraft, are far, far more stringent than here in the US. These engines are designed to be, and are, very quiet (at least in a tractor configuration).

I do not have ANR headsets and I'm quite comfortable without them in my plane. More that I can say for a 185 with a sea plane prop, which usually serves the same purpose as drag pipes on a Harley - look at me noise.

IMO a Rotax 912 is far quieter in the cabin that an old school aircraft engine.

They will just make you deaf in a new pitch...

My Rotax seems quieter than the 160 HP Lyc I had on my RV-4. That had 4 straight pipes exiting the cowling right in front of my feet though. It was painful to remove my ANR headsets in the RV-4. My Rotax has a muffler and seems much quieter to me. Maybe I just can't hear it over the ringing in my ears?

I was already hearing impaired, too late now. Construction work and ultralights, and '60's acid rock before that, I think my hearing has gotten better since I've been behind the Rotax. I ALWAYS wear my ANR headset though, and I also always have the Sirius radio on, talk or music or something.

One thing I have found from dead stick ridge soaring: the plane is pretty noisy just from the wind noise, even at 50 much less 90 under power, maybe half or at least a third is wind noise. If you live long enough you're going to have hearing loss, may as well have some fun.

I like those answers. Thanks guys. I guess I'll keep flying.

Huh?

In many if not most aircraf, it isn't the engine that makes the most (and often most damaging) noise, it's the prop.

The aforementioned C185 with a long prop is a great example.....at 2850 rpm, those prop tips on a long prop are working in the transonic range, and what you're hearing in that obnoxious blast is many little sonic booms....not engine noise.

MTV

Don't know about the 912.. but I can use my cell in the 180 and the PA-12 in flight no problem.. cant hear a damn thing when I am in the Avid behind the 582.

Doesn't the constant howling wind in WY make you deaf???

The Army dealt with our 4-6 thousand decibel range hearing problems with the SPH-4, Mickey Mouse Ears, helmet. Sounds like the helmet or headset you're talking about does the same thing. Old Army pilots like me can't hear normal spoken voice with any background noise. Younger troops who wore the SPH-4 throughout their career can hear people talk just fine with background noise.

contactflying wrote:The Army dealt with our 4-6 thousand decibel range

4-6,000 hertz? 4-6,000 db seems like it would turn you to jello.

rw2 wrote:

contactflying wrote:The Army dealt with our 4-6 thousand decibel range

4-6,000 hertz? 4-6,000 db seems like it would turn you to jello.

Afirm! Back row of a classic rock concert should be about +/-100db. 15 minutes of that = hearing loss. 4-6000 db is a sound weapon!

CW

The Flight Surgeon said 4-6000 something. I probably didn't hear him right.

rw2 wrote:

contactflying wrote:The Army dealt with our 4-6 thousand decibel range

4-6,000 hertz? 4-6,000 db seems like it would turn you to jello.

Uhhhh.. I think it would turn more than him to jello. Probably the whole world too...

Actually I think it's Rolexes that make you deaf. I held one to my ear when I was in college. I'm 80db down in that ear at 3K now. Watch out.

My plane isn't that loud I don't think.

http://youtu.be/-vUlL0aDOYc