Try standing next to one even at low rpm. Rotor noise becomes a factor at high rpm, but then the engine still is noisy itself. As a private pilot, small-aircraf

Try standing next to one even at low rpm. Rotor noise becomes a factor at high rpm, but then the engine still is noisy itself. As a private pilot, small-aircraft engines are noisy as f... Among the reasons: No development at all for about two decades when the small-aircraft market was down (which is why you see so many built decades ago, then a big gap, and only in the late 1990s new developments started to come to market). Other reason, but it's part of the first one (due to the costs involved): being conservative. If you only have one engine and you have a very reliable one, that's what you keep using. Especially when the costs of developing something new and getting it approved - and you have to repeat that in different regions with different government agencies - are very high. It is true though, when a propeller airplane flies overhead you get significantly more noise when it is directly perpendicular, when you get the most noise from the propellers. Jet engines had a significant positive development in this area. On the small Livermore (CA) airport I had the chance to compare two small jets, an old one and a new one. The old one made me cover my ears. The new one - less noise than a Cessna, quite amazing. In this context, an anecdote, but about noise on the inside: I always thought sitting in a glider would be quiet. It is - if you keep the little window shut. But then the cabin heats up too much (at least flying in California). I was very disappointed about my 1 hour in a glider. On the other hand, sitting inside a small airplane the noise from the engine is significant and a big reason why you really want that active noise-cancelling headset. I can relate to this pilot (except that if he had used a good headset he could have had it much easier): http://www.askthepilot.com/small-plane-misery/ http://www.askthepilot.com/small-plane-misery/ Tip: When flying in a small piston-powered airplane, always bring a good isolating headset, or ear plugs (or even both!). The movies are lying, those cockpits are as noisy as... I can't think of an equivalent, but it's on an "industrial level". Noise is a major stress factor in small aircraft aviation, as you could see from that pilot's article.