interior sound reduction

[rockwoodrv9]

Im using some cork tiles in the foot area and carpet in the baggage area. I tried to burn through the cork with a torch and was unable to. It bulged and smoked a bit, but did not burn through. You can pick up a few tiles at hobby lobby or bigger stuff at HD. It is reasonably light and doesnt absorb fluids too much.

I have a carpet kit for the front, but after considering the issues with fire, I decided against it. Maybe I will change my mind later, but for not it is going to be cork.

[Weasel]

Line the inside of the cockpit with 5/8 or better yet 3/4 sheet rock.

Honestly it takes mass to stop noise.

This guy sums it up fairly well.

[kentlik]

Originally Posted by BSwayze

My RV-7A isn't quite flying yet, so I can't give a report on effectiveness, but I installed some soundproofing from Aircraft Spruce. I will also install carpet, so I hope to get a double benefit. I found this on someone else's website, and it really impressed me. This guy was installing some soundproofing in his RV. The benefits not only go toward reducing some of the noise inside an airplane, but provide some insulation and vibration reduction, too.

I did some research and some reading, and finally ended up ordering some of this material from Aircraft spruce.



There's a 12-page booklet called "Soundproofing an Aircraft" that you can read online, available for free. You can also read some of the archived forum discussions by searching using key words like sound deadening, etc. There are mixed opinions, of course, but there's at least some consensus that much of the noise in an RV comes primarily through two places; the floor and the firewall. It seems obvious to me, if you think about it. An airplane is like a big aluminum drum. And you're sitting inside while the propwash, exhaust, and airstream are beating on the drum. There's lots of vibration going on.

I decided that for a very minimal weight penalty, I could install this material on the floor under the seats, baggage area, and forward floor. It's one of those creature comforts that I think will be an improvement. I would NOT, by the way, install this on the firewall!

This material comes in various thicknesses. It's a closed-cell vinyl-nitride foam with self-adhesive backing. It's FAA approved for fire safety, too! You can go crazy if you wish and put in 2" thick layers and really deaden the sound. I ordered the 1/4" material for minimal weight while still gaining a lot of benefit (I hope!). I can always pull the stuff out later if I don't like it. I carefully weighed each piece as I installed it. The total weight for everything I installed amounted to only 43 ounces.

Here are a few pics, installing it under my baggage floor, up the sides of the fuselage, and under the seats:







Finally, here's a link to the page on my website that shows more, and more discussion:

http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Fuselage/20091104.html

My website in general, home page:

http://www.BrucesRV7A.com

Nice work Bruce!

I was thinking...

[daddyman]

Originally Posted by BSwayze

My RV-7A isn't quite flying yet, so I can't give a report on effectiveness, but I installed some soundproofing from Aircraft Spruce. I will also install carpet, so I hope to get a double benefit. I found this on someone else's website, and it really impressed me. This guy was installing some soundproofing in his RV. The benefits not only go toward reducing some of the noise inside an airplane, but provide some insulation and vibration reduction, too.

I did some research and some reading, and finally ended up ordering some of this material from Aircraft spruce.



There's a 12-page booklet called "Soundproofing an Aircraft" that you can read online, available for free. You can also read some of the archived forum discussions by searching using key words like sound deadening, etc. There are mixed opinions, of course, but there's at least some consensus that much of the noise in an RV comes primarily through two places; the floor and the firewall. It seems obvious to me, if you think about it. An airplane is like a big aluminum drum. And you're sitting inside while the propwash, exhaust, and airstream are beating on the drum. There's lots of vibration going on.

I decided that for a very minimal weight penalty, I could install this material on the floor under the seats, baggage area, and forward floor. It's one of those creature comforts that I think will be an improvement. I would NOT, by the way, install this on the firewall!

This material comes in various thicknesses. It's a closed-cell vinyl-nitride foam with self-adhesive backing. It's FAA approved for fire safety, too! You can go crazy if you wish and put in 2" thick layers and really deaden the sound. I ordered the 1/4" material for minimal weight while still gaining a lot of benefit (I hope!). I can always pull the stuff out later if I don't like it. I carefully weighed each piece as I installed it. The total weight for everything I installed amounted to only 43 ounces.

Here are a few pics, installing it under my baggage floor, up the sides of the fuselage, and under the seats:







Finally, here's a link to the page on my website that shows more, and more discussion:

http://www.europa.com/~swayze/RV-7A/Fuselage/20091104.html

My website in general, home page:

http://www.BrucesRV7A.com

Ben,
I used this material (1/2") in my last plane. I was impressed with the fire resistance. I tested it with a plow torch. It was light and quite effective, although I do not have the decibel numbers to demonstrate by how much.
Daddyman

[Robert Anglin]

We did a lot of homework on this subject and found the best answers from a company up in Washington State. Pegasus Aeromarine Inc., a mister Dan Newland 360-437-9360. They have a very good catalog of some of the best sound abating, absorbing and vibration & damping supplies. They have a good sample selection of aircraft acoustic treatment materials, you can order for about 20 or 30 dollars "I forget". They have a lot of very good information on their web sight and are easy to work with. The supplies they sell are light and made for everyday aircraft use. I am looking forward to spring when we plan to rework our fire wall and inside panels of our 8. You may wish to check these things out as well. Yours, R.E.A. III # 80888

[EXflyer]

Years back was flying several different light planes, Cessna, Grumman and such. Bought two sets of Telex head sets the good ones, they worked great didn't worry about noise or the problems with David Clark ones. Seems for some reason with me anyway the DC ones cause my ears to hurt. Only thing I could think of was I wore glasses.
Seems that would be the easy way to do things and never worry about weight or installation. Boyd in Chiloquin OR where the snow just keeps COMING

[M McGraw]

I too insulated during construction. I used a Dassault product I found at a deep discount. It is about 1/4” thick self sticking dense foam. Because it is foam based I assumed it was intended for sidewalls only. I only insulated the area from the wing spar to the aft cargo bulkhead. My idea was to avoid the most likely area to have a fire. Since I never flew the aircraft before insulation I really cannot say how much/if any difference it made. I am quite please with the sound level I have.

[DanH]

Originally Posted by Robert Anglin

We did a lot of homework on this subject and found the best answers from a company up in Washington State. Pegasus Aeromarine Inc., a mister Dan Newland 360-437-9360. They have a very good catalog of some of the best sound abating, absorbing and vibration & damping supplies.

The Aeromarine kits include plastic, vinyl, and foam FAR25.853 materials on a firewall. Really stupid.

[Walt]

Keep in mind putting insulation on the floor skins may promote corrosion if ventilation and drainage is inhibited.
Moisture and other 'stuff' will find its way in regardless on how hard you try to prevent it.

[az_gila]

Originally Posted by DanH

The Aeromarine kits include plastic, vinyl, and foam FAR25.853 materials on a firewall. Really stupid.

They advertise one of the -10 options as felt and Nomex.

http://www.pegasusaeromarine.com/air...v10-fwi-2.html

Would the Nomex help against the firewall?

ADDED

Skip the answer, I just found the old posts about Nomex 'falling apart' around 700F...