The Stall Horn Returneth

[Casey Wilson[_1_]]

Not long ago, I inquired about whether a LIghtspeed 30-3G was a
bargin for $300. Most thought it was too good a deal to be true. Well, I got
it but today was the first time I flew it with it. Works great.
About the stall horn... The passive headsets I've been using for the
past three years worked fine. Perhaps to well, in some cases. For instance,
that passive headset blocked out the stall horn about 90% of the time. In
those brief moments when I did hear it, it was more of a fleeting impression
of something buzzing. I had thought a couple of times about suggesting some
sort of gizmo to RST Engineering to electronize the mechanical thingie for
me -- especially after a passenger asked me what the noise was and I
responded with, "What noise?"
Today, on a 3.2H round-robin cross-country, the 30-3G worked great. I
especially enjoyed the treble-boost feature that compensates for a chronic
hearing deficiency that accompanies my advancing age.
During the flare on my first approach to landing the stall horn blared at me
for the first time in I don't remember how many landings. In the few
millimoments before I recognized what the noise was, my reflexes were
actually initiating a go-around.
Yup, I'm hooked on the ANR [or whatever] headsets. HOORAY, the
stall-horn returneth.

[Jay Honeck]

> Yup, I'm hooked on the ANR [or whatever] headsets. HOORAY, the
> stall-horn returneth.

It's funny. When I first got ANR headsets, my mechanic (and others)
declared that they didn't want to wear "anything that would interfere
with hearing the engine" -- for fear of losing "touch" with it.

As you discovered, ANR headphones actually allow you to hear MORE
detailed sounds, from the engine and other sources. All they do is get
rid of the loud, monotonous racket, and I won't fly without 'em
anymore.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Vaughn Simon]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> As you discovered, ANR headphones actually allow you to hear MORE
> detailed sounds, from the engine and other sources. All they do is get
> rid of the loud, monotonous racket, and I won't fly without 'em
> anymore.

Actually that "loud, monotonous racket" the ANR is designed to eliminate
comes mostly from the engine, so I usually don't turn on my ANR until after the
runup.

It would be nice if a stall alarm were routinely routed through the intercom.
25-35 years ago, when most of the planes we fly were made, it was common to fly
with no headset as if you were driving a car. Back then, one could actually
hear the stall horn, but now it is attenuated at least 12 db or so by the
pilot's headset. Why have it if you can't hear it?

Vaughn

[Jay Honeck]

> Actually that "loud, monotonous racket" the ANR is designed to eliminate
> comes mostly from the engine, so I usually don't turn on my ANR until after the
> runup.

No, the loud monotonous racket is, well, noise. It's too loud and
conglomerated for the healthy human ear to pick out individual sounds.
If you want to hear what the engine is really doing, in great detail,
turn your ANR headset *on*.

I'm always amazed at the little things I can hear with them on -- heck,
I can hear my kids talking to each other in the back seat -- that I
miss if I forget to turn them on.

For example, my engine makes a tell-tale whining noise right after
start-up that I can only hear with the ANRs on. It slowly builds in
pitch until it disappears, usually within a minute or two after start
up. I've guessed the alternator, since it's the only belt-driven
accessory, but I'm not sure.

I've asked my A&P to figure out what it is (it's made the noise since
the engine came out of the overhaul shop -- and probably before that),
but he can't hear it. Neither can I, without the ANR headsets that he
refuses to use.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Larry Dighera]

On Fri, 18 Aug 2006 22:38:06 GMT, "Casey Wilson" <N2310D @ gmail.com>
wrote in <ijrFg.57$hP6.12@trnddc04>:

>For instance,
>that passive headset blocked out the stall horn about 90% of the time. In
>those brief moments when I did hear it, it was more of a fleeting impression
>of something buzzing. I had thought a couple of times about suggesting some
>sort of gizmo to RST Engineering to electronize the mechanical thingie for
>me -- especially after a passenger asked me what the noise was and I
>responded with, "What noise?"

Consider adding a visual aspect to the stall warning system; a panel
mounted light in parallel with the stall horn would solve the
difficulty.

[Jose[_1_]]

> Back then, one could actually
> hear the stall horn, but now it is attenuated at least 12 db or so by the
> pilot's headset.

So is everything else, so it still stands out. I've never had a problem.

Jose
--
The monkey turns the crank and thinks he's making the music.
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

[Jim Burns[_1_]]

I think that the loud monotonous racket that ANR gets rid of is mostly from
the prop(s). Once that is gone, I can hear our engines better. In fact,
the only time I find it an advantage to turn my ANR off is to check and fine
tune my prop synch. The ANR masks a slightly unsynched prop to the point
where it is uncomfortable to people not wearing ANR's. Those wearing ANR's
don't seem to notice it. Of course, grossly out of synched props are easily
noticed by even the dead.

As far as the stall horn, we have only a light and our gear horn is
extremely loud no matter what you're wearing.

Jim

[Newps]

Vaughn Simon wrote:


>
>
> Actually that "loud, monotonous racket" the ANR is designed to eliminate
> comes mostly from the engine,

It comes from the prop.

[Newps]

>
>>For instance,
>>that passive headset blocked out the stall horn about 90% of the time. In
>>those brief moments when I did hear it, it was more of a fleeting impression
>>of something buzzing. I had thought a couple of times about suggesting some
>>sort of gizmo to RST Engineering to electronize the mechanical thingie for
>>me -- especially after a passenger asked me what the noise was and I
>>responded with, "What noise?"

Stall horns are for people who by the numbers. Yout typical single
engine aircraft does not need one. Use your ass.

[Casey Wilson[_1_]]

"Newps" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>
>>
>>>For instance, that passive headset blocked out the stall horn about 90%
>>>of the time. In those brief moments when I did hear it, it was more of a
>>>fleeting impression of something buzzing. I had thought a couple of times
>>>about suggesting some sort of gizmo to RST Engineering to electronize the
>>>mechanical thingie for me -- especially after a passenger asked me what
>>>the noise was and I responded with, "What noise?"
>
> Stall horns are for people who by the numbers. Yout typical single engine
> aircraft does not need one. Use your ass.

Well, obviously I don't NEED the horn. I was just using it as an indication
of what the headset did. BTW, I use it to hold the headset up..... LOL