This would make sence. no more noise, not really any loss in performance. doesn’t affect reliability, so why not???
2006-10-05 07:52:52 · 17 answers · asked by VFR-RN 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
I'm not sure whether they have mufflers or just exhaust manifolds. My understanding was that air passed over the exhaut manifold to supply heat to the cabin.
Regardless, the reason airplanes don't have a mufller (or have a very small one if they do) is because it reduces the performance of the engine. A piston powered engine basically operates like an air pump. The amount of air entering the engine is limited to the amount of air leaving the engine (in this case as exhaust). A muffler provides resistance to exhaust leaving the engine. The less exhaust the can leave the engine, the less air an engine can bring in through the intake manifold. The less air, or oxygen an engine is supplied with the less fuel it can burn which means the less power it can produce. The engine on an single engine airplane is pretty critical in determing how high an airplane can fly, the weight it can carry, and how fast it can move. Engine manufactures have enough problems trying to provide as much power from the smallest engine possible without having to further complicate the matter. Besides, once you're flying at altitude the noise isn't really an issue so there's no point in trying to reduce it at the expense of critical performance factors.
2006-10-05 09:00:33 · answer #1 · answered by ncolton22 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
my cessna 172 has a very good muffler.
most of the noise in the plane is from the air going by at 135 mph.
The noise outside the plane is mostly from the engine. but you have to consider the engine, mine is 320 cid 4 cyl. That's a bigger 4cyl then the 5.0 mustang 8 cyl. my muffler is ruffly 6" in diameter and about 24 inches long. Hope this helps some.
2006-10-05 10:39:57 · answer #2 · answered by pocat 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know where you get you information; but single engine aircraft do have mufflers. As a matter of fact a shroud that fits over the muffler is the source for cabin heat in cold weather operations. For this reason the mufflers are made of stainless steel and inspected for leakage to prevent fumes from entering the cockpit.
ncolton22 you are partially correct but that is mostly the case in light twin aircraft where the length of the exhaust manifolds help to limit the noise the exhaust collectors also work to muffle the noise. In these aircraft a janitrol heater is the source for heat which runs of the aircraft's fuel supply.
2006-10-05 08:25:39 · answer #3 · answered by pecker_head_bill 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mufflers do cause a loss in performance. It's not a huge loss, but it does decrease the amount of power available during takeoff. That's a crucial time, when the pilot may want to use every bit of power available.
Also, light planes are sensitive to the amount of power, and to the amount of load they are asked to carry. More load or less power can have a dramatic effect on how far they have to go before they can take off. And planes are seldom running near people when on the ground, so the noise is not seen as a big issue to most people. Those inside the aircraft usually wear some sort of headphones to block or cancel the noise.
2006-10-05 07:59:53 · answer #4 · answered by Ralfcoder 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The C206 (normal) I fly has two exhaust outlets, each with a muffler, whether or not it makes a huge decrease in engine noise, I wouldn't know. But it is definately a muffler.
But a few people are correct in saying that most of the noise people hear, especially if heard from the outside, is from the propeller blades- the tips are moving through the air very quickly. I mean, just listen to a C206 / C210 takeoff!
2006-10-05 18:27:59 · answer #5 · answered by rghaviation 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Piper Cherokee 140 has a muffler. I wish I could take it off so I could boost my power.
Some aircraft don't have mufflers because of the location of the engine (the Lake Buccaneer amphib is one) but they are not appreciably louder than aircraft with a muffler.
The prop makes most of the noise (especially on a Cessna 185, the prop breaks the sound barrier).
2006-10-05 12:35:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know what all these poeple are talking about, obviously they have NEVER looked under the engine cowl of a small piston single.
THEY DO HAVE MUFFLERS! They are not big, or restrictive, but they do have them!
Actually most of the noise you hear is coming from the prop anyway, not the engine, itself.
2006-10-06 06:56:16 · answer #7 · answered by DETREVNI 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Single Prop airplane engines do have mufflers. The noise associated with this type of airplane is largely prop noise.
2006-10-05 09:05:55 · answer #8 · answered by tk 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes it effects reliability. It is just another part to keep care of.
Mufflers rust quickly.
There also would be a loss in performance due to back pressure.
Also the added burden of weight.
The noise issue is not considered big since all aircraft are supposed to stay well away from residential areas, unless they are around an airport, which is why property is cheap around an airport.
2006-10-05 08:09:26 · answer #9 · answered by dyke_in_heat 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Actually, my old Beechcraft *did* have a muffler. It reduced the noise level to just "very loud indeed" instead of "WHAT? MY EARDRUM JUST BURST!!!" It also was part of the heating system that ducted fresh air around the hot pipes and into the cabin to roast your toes.
So some light aircraft DO have mufflers, they just don't do very much.
2006-10-05 08:11:36 · answer #10 · answered by Berry K 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋