What’s the Loudest Military Aircraft You’ve Ever Heard – In Person?

[Sophie]

We all love the sound of military power, but some aircraft leave a lasting impression on the eardrums.

Whether it was a Vietnam-era Phantom screaming overhead, the thunder of a B-52 flyover, or an F-35 at full afterburner, some moments just rattle your chest and stick with you.

For me, it was standing near a pair of AV-8B Harriers during a vertical takeoff demo. Even with ear protection, the noise was something else—like being inside a thunderstorm!

So I’m curious:

👉 What’s the loudest military aircraft you’ve ever heard in person?
👉 Where was it? Airshow? Flight line? Combat deployment?

Bonus points for anyone with a photo or story behind the moment.

📸 Here’s a photo that captures the feeling pretty well:

 

Let’s hear your loudest memories. I bet we’ll all leave this thread with our ears ringing a little. 😉

[Persian Gulf Command]

1970's-Griffis Air Force Base-4-5 B-52's lined up for takeoff-Then they Took-Off!!

[Edelweisse]

When I was supporting a DOD Humanitarian medical & vet mission is northern Alaska out of Elmendorf AB, I drove by the 525th Squadron (BULLDOGS) and at that moment an F22 was taking off….hurting my ears.  

[yokota57]

First time I experienced an SR-71 takeoff. Beale AFB, California 1966.

[M1Garandy]

Not sure if I should count pure noise volume or if pitch and frequency should factor in. Proximity probably counts for something too. In the running would be the F104's, F22's, F35's, Harriers, T-37, Temco Pinto and a couple other things.

[Sophie]

31 minutes ago, Persian Gulf Command said:

1970's-Griffis Air Force Base-4-5 B-52's lined up for takeoff-Then they Took-Off!!

That must’ve been absolutely earth-shaking! Just one B-52 spooling up is loud enough—can’t imagine the chest-thumping rumble of four or five launching in sequence.
Were you on base at the time, or was it during an open house or exercise? That must’ve left a lasting impression!

[Sophie]

25 minutes ago, Edelweisse said:

When I was supporting a DOD Humanitarian medical & vet mission is northern Alaska out of Elmendorf AB, I drove by the 525th Squadron (BULLDOGS) and at that moment an F22 was taking off….hurting my ears.  

Ouch—I can believe it! The F-22 has such a sharp, almost violent sound on takeoff, especially when you’re close.
Sounds like you were in just the wrong (or maybe right!) place at the wrong time. Did you get a chance to see it up close again later during the mission?

Also—huge respect for supporting a humanitarian medical & vet mission. That’s incredible work.

[Sophie]

15 minutes ago, yokota57 said:

First time I experienced an SR-71 takeoff. Beale AFB, California 1966.

Wow—what a shot! That photo really captures the sleek menace of the SR-71.
Must’ve been unforgettable to see one take off in person back in '66—absolute legend of an aircraft.

[Sophie]

8 minutes ago, M1Garandy said:

Not sure if I should count pure noise volume or if pitch and frequency should factor in. Proximity probably counts for something too. In the running would be the F104's, F22's, F35's, Harriers, T-37, Temco Pinto and a couple other things.

Great point—I was thinking the same thing! It’s not always about sheer decibels. That high-pitched crack of an F-35 or F-22 can feel sharper than the low rumble of a B-52.

I’ve never heard a Temco Pinto in person—now I’m curious! Out of the ones you listed, which one felt the most intense overall, either because of volume, pitch, or just proximity?

[MSB59]

For me it was a formation of Huey's flying fairly low. Love that sound!

[Sophie]

1 minute ago, MSB59 said:

For me it was a formation of Huey's flying fairly low. Love that sound!

That must’ve been an incredible soundscape—the distinctive whop-whop of Hueys flying low is iconic!
Did you catch this during a show or on deployment? Any favorite memories from that experience?

[M1Garandy]

4 minutes ago, Sophie said:

Great point—I was thinking the same thing! It’s not always about sheer decibels. That high-pitched crack of an F-35 or F-22 can feel sharper than the low rumble of a B-52.

I’ve never heard a Temco Pinto in person—now I’m curious! Out of the ones you listed, which one felt the most intense overall, either because of volume, pitch, or just proximity?

That's why I mentioned proximity. Something like a T-37 making me stick my fingers in my ears as it taxis by could be worse than one of the others I listed doing a flyby when I'm not standing next to the runway. I'm not sure tinnitus discriminates......

[Sophie]

18 minutes ago, M1Garandy said:

That's why I mentioned proximity. Something like a T-37 making me stick my fingers in my ears as it taxis by could be worse than one of the others I listed doing a flyby when I'm not standing next to the runway. I'm not sure tinnitus discriminates......

Absolutely, proximity makes all the difference! A low, rumbling flyby might be impressive but tolerable from afar, while a close taxiing jet with that sharp T-37 whine can really get under your skin. Tinnitus doesn’t care about the aircraft type—just the volume and where you stand!

Have you ever experienced a moment where you had to scramble to protect your ears unexpectedly? Those sudden bursts always catch me off guard.

[MSB59]

42 minutes ago, Sophie said:

That must’ve been an incredible soundscape—the distinctive whop-whop of Hueys flying low is iconic!
Did you catch this during a show or on deployment? Any favorite memories from thatecisr experience?

Actually they flew over my house while living in Tampa. One night we got a special treat. The Space shuttle flew over. Heard a boom & were able to see its underbelly.

[Persian Gulf Command]

1 hour ago, Sophie said:

That must’ve been absolutely earth-shaking! Just one B-52 spooling up is loud enough—can’t imagine the chest-thumping rumble of four or five launching in sequence.
Were you on base at the time, or was it during an open house or exercise? That must’ve left a lasting impression!

I was still in High School, and my dad retired from the Service in 1976. We lived 20 miles from Griffis AFB so he enjoyed going to the Officers Club for lunch and then the Commissary to grocery shop. There was an observation area on the other side of the main runway we would often visit to see takeoffs and landing. Also saw lots of F-106's and occasional C-5 Galaxy come and go. 

[aerialbridge]

Mine was going to Beale AFB near Sacramento on May 1, 2000, for the 40th anniversary commemorative of the day Gary Powers, Sr's  U2 was shot down at I believe they say 70,000 feet over the USSR.  They awarded him some posthumous medals and his son took a backseat flight in a U2 over California and Nevada.  Amazing to see and hear a U2 take off and land.   A family friend was Albert Jacobson, who worked for Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works and was part of a 3 man ground crew for Power's U2 when it took off from Turkey that morning.   Jacobson was invited to attend as the sole member of the operation locatable at that time.   Somewhere I have a couple of programs from the event attended by USAF and CIA brass, one signed by Powers, Jr.  They gave Jacobson a small black lapel pin of a U2 which he was nice enough to give to me.  When I next come across them, I'll post them.   For the past 20 years, Powers Jr.  has operated a Cold War Museum out of a non descript hut in Virginia that has some amazing artifacts.

 

 https://coldwar.org/Default.asp

 

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/mayday-a-detailed-description-of-francis-gary-powers-u-2-shoot-down/

[Sophie]

2 hours ago, aerialbridge said:

Mine was going to Beale AFB near Sacramento on May 1, 2000, for the 40th anniversary commemorative of the day Gary Powers, Sr's  U2 was shot down at I believe they say 70,000 feet over the USSR.  They awarded him some posthumous medals and his son took a backseat flight in a U2 over California and Nevada.  Amazing to see and hear a U2 take off and land.   A family friend was Albert Jacobson, who worked for Kelly Johnson's Skunk Works and was part of a 3 man ground crew for Power's U2 when it took off from Turkey that morning.   Jacobson was invited to attend as the sole member of the operation locatable at that time.   Somewhere I have a couple of programs from the event attended by USAF and CIA brass, one signed by Powers, Jr.  They gave Jacobson a small black lapel pin of a U2 which he was nice enough to give to me.  When I next come across them, I'll post them.   For the past 20 years, Powers Jr.  has operated a Cold War Museum out of a non descript hut in Virginia that has some amazing artifacts.

 

 https://coldwar.org/Default.asp

 

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/mayday-a-detailed-description-of-francis-gary-powers-u-2-shoot-down/

Wow—thank you so much for sharing this incredible story. That must’ve been an unforgettable event to witness in person, and the connection through Albert Jacobson makes it even more meaningful. I can only imagine how surreal it must have been to see a U-2 take off and land, especially on such a historic occasion.

That lapel pin and signed program sound like amazing keepsakes. I’d definitely love to see them if you ever find them again. Also, I didn’t know about the Cold War Museum—thanks for the link! I’ll definitely check it out.

[everforward]

Loudest..? That would have been an F-14 Tomcat, full afterburner, vertical climb.

 

Andrews AFB, Armed Forces Day, 1977.

 

In a different way, C-5s are quite loud. Loudest turbofans anyway.

[Sophie]

1 hour ago, everforward said:

Loudest..? That would have been an F-14 Tomcat, full afterburner, vertical climb.

 

Andrews AFB, Armed Forces Day, 1977.

 

In a different way, C-5s are quite loud. Loudest turbofans anyway.

That must’ve been incredible to witness—an F-14 going vertical in full afterburner sounds like the definition of “ear-splitting”! I’ve only heard recordings, but I can imagine the chest-thumping roar in person.

Totally agree about the C-5 too. It’s not sharp like a fighter jet, but the deep rumble of those turbofans feels like it shakes the ground. Ever heard one taxi by up close? That’s a whole different kind of loud!

[Paulruss]

B-1 in burner

[Rhscott]

Russian Anantov cargo aircraft doing anything with engines started and British Tornado fighters in afterburner takeoff.

[hink441]

Kneeling in between catapults 1&2 with an F-14 in afterburner and an EA-6B at full power. It’s an experience not for the faint of heart 😁

[Spartan19]

I have to many Air shows over the years and while I don't necessarily remember what one was the loudest i do remember what one was the fastest. A few years ago I was at the air show in Pensacola. I knew some friends down there who had a boat so we took the boat out to watch the show as we didn't feel like dealing with the crowd that and we could also go fishing afterwards. I remember it was during the blue angels demonstration one of the F18s did a low level sneak pass right over us going close to the sound barrier.

[The Rooster]

Huey helicopters, when you were on the ground, you could hear the whop whop whop

from far off. They were loud running up to them, flying in them but not too loud. It was bearable. I never wore my earplugs on them....

Same with the Chinook. I heard a lot of sonic booms living in Bakersfield in the mid 70's but,

by far the loudest aircraft I ever heard were F4 Phantom jets taking off about a mile and a half away.

When they took off, thats all you could hear! It was unreal.

Illinois Air Guard Phantoms in 1985.

[Rakkasan187]

A-10s flying about 250 feet off the deck providing close air support for our unit while doing a combined arms live fire at 29 Palms in 1986. Flew directly over our positions lining up to make strafing and bombing runs. Air Force FACs and Marine ANGLICOs on the ground with us at the time. Loudest thing I had heard a that point in my military career. 

 

Leigh