Ever heard wingtip vortices?

[Hedley]

A new one for me on the weekend. Sometimes you can see wingtip vortices - eg in snow, or cloud - but twice I heard them, descending. First time I thought I was going nuts, but the second time confirmed it.

Sounded like a snake hissing.

Anyone else ever heard wingtip vortices?

[KAG]

yes, it hisses and crackles. Your not nuts.

[CD]

Quite often, actually. It's a cool effect, especially on a perfectly calm day...

[turbo-prop]

You should go play golf at theMcCall golf course in Calgary. When there landing 34 you'll here it coming then the pine trees lean over and almost touch the ground.

[Props]

Good place is on the jetty in YVR when they're landing 08L. Kicks up a pretty good water spout too.

[Tim]

cool! anyone know what causes it??

[iflyforpie]

Used to hear them all the time when plane spotting at YVR on 26 (before it was 26L). You'd hear them overhead about the time the aircraft had finished with reverse and was pulling off the runway. Sounds like somebody waving tin foil above your head. 727s seemed to do it more often than other aircraft...

[linecrew]

CRJ 100/200s seem to have a very distinct sound to their vortices when they pass over you on short final.

[Topspin]

Used to hear them all the time when plane spotting at YVR on 26 (before it was 26L). You'd hear them overhead about the time the aircraft had finished with reverse and was pulling off the runway. Sounds like somebody waving tin foil above your head. 727s seemed to do it more often than other aircraft...

Staff lot at YVR under 26R. All the aluminum signs bolted 40 feet up in the air start to vibrate and rattle, really cool.

[Max Torque]

I have heard them also. Also, on final one clear day, I was landing behind a 727 in a Beech 99. I had noticed a blurred area in front of us, somewhat like a distortion off our left side, almost like on a hot day. Then we got rocked by the other one. We weren't that close, but just one of those days in calm winds and it must have hung around longer.

[Edo]

Off the end of the runway in Prince Albert. The trackers were landing passing overhead at about 50 feet. It was pretty impressive just hearing the engine noise. Just as the engine noise faded, the hissing and crackling started. Very cool it repeated for every plane in the group as they landed one after the other!

[jericho flight]

Hear them all the time where I live. JR 705 (jazz), sound the best.

[fanspeed]

Definately heard them-anyone else see the shock on your wing?

[Hedley]

The weird thing is that these were from a little 2000 lb (one ton) airplane. I guess the wing must have been really working.

[cyxe]

Yes heard 'em, while spotting under the approach to 26R at Vancouver International.

[Team Firecracker]

my wife thinks they sound like plastic bags.....

[Lost Lake]

The sound is induced by the wing vortices nearly achieving the sound barrier. It causes the ear wax to vibrate at the right frequency. it usually occurs in western canadians, especially in Vancouver and Calgary.

Simple solution is just to clean your ears out.

[Skydrvr7]

We used to listen to the Jetstream 31's with Air BC when they would land in Lethbridge. If you went at night and it was calm (not too common in Lethbridge but every once in a while!) you would hear the sssssssssssSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS for about 30-45 seconds after the aircraft passed over...it did sound like someone shaking long strands of tin foil...amazing to hear on a dark and quiet night.

[ScudRunner]

I have heard them also. Also, on final one clear day, I was landing behind a 727 in a Beech 99. I had noticed a blurred area in front of us, somewhat like a distortion off our left side, almost like on a hot day. Then we got rocked by the other one. We weren't that close, but just one of those days in calm winds and it must have hung around longer.

Your just seeing my Carbon Boot print, if your following a 27 you don't even need to dial up the ILS or any Nav just follow the trail of David Suzuki tears it leaves behind.

[North Shore]

A new one for me on the weekend. Sometimes you can see wingtip vortices - eg in snow, or cloud - but twice I heard them, descending. First time I thought I was going nuts, but the second time confirmed it.

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks!

[Lowjack]

I've also heard them all the time at McCall lake golf course just in front of 34 at YYC. AA MD-80's have been the most consistent for you hearing them as they pass over.

[all_ramped_up]

Yup! Heard them from a Canadian North 737 when I was out for a walk on Frobisher Bay.

Was really loud since it was about -37C out and calm.

[Joe Blow Schmo]

yes, it hisses and crackles. Your not nuts.

Let's not jump to conclusions!

[GARRETT]

Watch this video and you'll hear the vortices a few seconds after the RJ passes.(I think it's a RJ, didn't look too closely.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmdz6_7f ... re=related

[Stan Darsh]

Stand in the Landing Strip/Aviation World parking lot when they're coming in on 24R at YYZ. You can really hear it whip through the power lines.