Before/During Taxi Noise...

[Jakemaster]

Nope, it doesn't sound like that.

And I was in an A320 and A319.

Most likely you heard the flap motor(s) driving the flaps out and that goes for most airliners. Above the noise of cabin conditioning air, the safety video, what is being said over the PA and the engines themselves, about the only thing loud enough to be heard over this is a hydraulic motor. If you are stood next to one (an I am all too often) the noise trieds very hard to split your head in two! Also at the same time you can often feel an amount of resonance through the aircraft structure. They are extremely powerful, for example on the 737, they are bolted down as with all components, but also they have large steel cable straps over them in case the bolts ever fail, they would thrash themselves and anything close by to death.

Matt

Exactly what I was about to say.  The flap motors.  On certain planes it sounds a lot louder than you'd think it would, but you can definatley hear it!

Especially if you happen to be sat over the point that they are installed.

Matt

Very true, and when I fly Southwest I always do  I love window seats by the wing 8-)

[expat]

Nope, it doesn't sound like that.

And I was in an A320 and A319.

Most likely you heard the flap motor(s) driving the flaps out and that goes for most airliners. Above the noise of cabin conditioning air, the safety video, what is being said over the PA and the engines themselves, about the only thing loud enough to be heard over this is a hydraulic motor. If you are stood next to one (an I am all too often) the noise trieds very hard to split your head in two! Also at the same time you can often feel an amount of resonance through the aircraft structure. They are extremely powerful, for example on the 737, they are bolted down as with all components, but also they have large steel cable straps over them in case the bolts ever fail, they would thrash themselves and anything close by to death.

Matt

Exactly what I was about to say.  The flap motors.  On certain planes it sounds a lot louder than you'd think it would, but you can definatley hear it!

Especially if you happen to be sat over the point that they are installed.

Matt

Very true, and when I fly Southwest I always do  I love window seats by the wing 8-)

Southwest, Boeing 737 and a window seat, you are sat directly above the main wheel well and the system A & B A/C  hydraulic pumps, the hydraulic motor for the flaps and the standby hydraulic pump. The A & B A/C electric pumps run all the time and the flap motor, naturally when the flaps are driven in and out........The standby pump, lets hope that you do not hear that one

Matt