Singapore Expats

The sound of rockets

Discuss about the latest news & interesting topics, real life experience or other out of topic discussions with locals & expatriates in Singapore.
Post Reply
User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

The sound of rockets

Post by JR8 » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 8:56 am

Ok, strange question.

A few times a day I hear what sounds like a rocket-ship taking off. For perhaps 30 seconds there is a huge rumbling. It does not feel at all nearby, it has 'that greater sense of scale to it'.

It happened at 8.10am this morning, it's just happened again at 8.50am.


It is not traffic or anything similar, it is way way bigger, but apparently distant.

Has anyone else encountered this?

User avatar
Saint
Director
Director
Posts: 3505
Joined: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 5:19 pm
Location: The Juban Stand, Boat Quay
Contact:

Post by Saint » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 9:40 am

It's the A380 taking off

User avatar
Fortan
Chatter
Chatter
Posts: 466
Joined: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 9:42 am

Post by Fortan » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 9:56 am

It is a sign of spicy curry if you were sitting on the porcelain throne :lol:

User avatar
Max Headroom
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed, 08 May 2013 11:31 am
Location: Singapore

Post by Max Headroom » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:43 am

Ah, the penny just dropped. What's happened is this. It's not a plane taking off, it's actually a plane landing.

Because the winds have shifted to NE, planes now land whilst flying north. This means the back of their engine are pointing pretty much at us. The rumbling you hear is the din of the reverse thrusters kicking in, the same sound you hear when you're on the plane just after touching down, except now it's carried further on the NE and seems more, well, rumbly.

Planes always employ their reverse thrusters of course. It's just that most of the year they land whilst the back of their engines are facing away from us, i.e. they're flying into the SW breeze, our other monsoon season. So most of the year you won't hear the rumbling.

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Post by JR8 » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 1:27 pm

Nope, we live maybe 10 miles from Changi, so it's not planes landing (or even flying overhead, which they don't).

It is however a very distinctive sound, hence my original question.

bgd
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1684
Joined: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 4:09 pm

Post by bgd » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 1:39 pm

Thunder?

User avatar
sundaymorningstaple
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 40280
Joined: Thu, 11 Nov 2004 1:26 pm
Answers: 12
Location: Retired on the Little Red Dot

Post by sundaymorningstaple » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 1:50 pm

Digestive troubles in the deep tunnel sewage system, perhaps?
:lol:
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

User avatar
Max Headroom
Reporter
Reporter
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed, 08 May 2013 11:31 am
Location: Singapore

Post by Max Headroom » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 2:30 pm

My money remains firmly on the reverse-thrusters. By the by, we hear it too.

Any fly-boys here that can shed some light on Rocketman's querie (read: confirm my answer :) ) ?

User avatar
ScoobyDoes
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1667
Joined: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 6:42 pm
Location: A More Lucky Spot

Post by ScoobyDoes » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 5:47 pm

JR8 wrote:Nope, we live maybe 10 miles from Changi, so it's not planes landing (or even flying overhead, which they don't).

It is however a very distinctive sound, hence my original question.

10-Miles isn't that far if the wind is in the right direction.

But there are loads of other airports around SG so it could be from any of them.
'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

SIR Stirling Moss OBE

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Post by JR8 » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 5:49 pm

Are there B52s here?

User avatar
durain
Director
Director
Posts: 3666
Joined: Thu, 23 Aug 2007 8:15 pm
Location: Location: Location: Location:

Post by durain » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:08 pm


User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Post by JR8 » Tue, 03 Dec 2013 11:43 pm

Dunno, but I doubt the Apollo style rockets.


The noise was going on again this p.m. Anyway, who knows....

User avatar
Saint
Director
Director
Posts: 3505
Joined: Thu, 16 Jun 2005 5:19 pm
Location: The Juban Stand, Boat Quay
Contact:

Post by Saint » Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:03 am

JR8 wrote:Dunno, but I doubt the Apollo style rockets.


The noise was going on again this p.m. Anyway, who knows....
As I said before, it the A380 taking off or landing. If it's 30 seconds or more then it's taking off, around 10 seconds then landing with reverse thrusters.

I'm about 8 miles away and hear it loud and clear when wind in certain direction which it is now.

User avatar
JR8
Immortal
Immortal
Posts: 16522
Joined: Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:43 pm
Location: K. Puki Manis

Post by JR8 » Wed, 04 Dec 2013 10:46 am

Saint wrote:As I said before, it the A380 taking off or landing. If it's 30 seconds or more then it's taking off, around 10 seconds then landing with reverse thrusters.

I'm about 8 miles away and hear it loud and clear when wind in certain direction which it is now.
That's incredible, that it creates so much more noise that say a '747'. Seems a bit contrary to the supposed evolution of quiet/green aircraft.

I wouldn't have imagined being able to hear any aeroplane from 10 miles away, especially across an urban environment .

I wonder if A380s disturb the denizens of Kensington (10 miles from HRW).

User avatar
ScoobyDoes
Manager
Manager
Posts: 1667
Joined: Wed, 29 Nov 2006 6:42 pm
Location: A More Lucky Spot

Post by ScoobyDoes » Wed, 04 Dec 2013 5:36 pm

JR8 wrote: That's incredible, that it creates so much more noise that say a '747'. Seems a bit contrary to the supposed evolution of quiet/green aircraft.

There aren't a huge number of 747s coming into Changi anymore. SQ's are all gone whilst most of the rest are also using 777 and A330.
'When Lewis Hamilton wins a race he has to thank Vodafone whereas in my day I used to chase the crumpet. I know which era I'd rather race in.'

SIR Stirling Moss OBE

Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Return to “General Discussions”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests