Napier Sabre recordings from IWM archive

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Combing the IWM online archive, I found a whole stash of to me hitherto unbeknownst sound-recordings, featuring Hawker Typhoons performing training attacks with rockets. The first four are one single recording chopped up, with the first few flybys uninterrupted by rockets firing. In some you can hear the rockets exploding on the ground:

 

Spoiler

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018357

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018358

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018359

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018360

 

This next one is a separate recording of a similar exercise, dating from 1945:

 

Spoiler

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80007681

 

These are the best recordings I've heard so far, aside the most famous one featuring the Tempest taking off and performing flybys:

 

 

It also confirms a few things to me. First, the engine sounds used in this period recognition film are undoubtedly Sabre recordings - that engine note and whine is the same. Whether or not the original recording survives somewhere, I have no clue:

 

Spoiler

 

 

It also confirms that this recording seems to be a composite of all sorts; some of the Typhoon sounds are directly from the end of the IWM recording (not to mention the fact at 3 mins in it's clearly switched to a Merlin recording):

 

Spoiler

 

 

Overall, the main thing I'd comment on is how high-pitched it sounds. My favourite feature is how distinctively "scrambled" and busy the exhaust note sounds as the plane flies away from the equipment, and conversely the whine as it approaches. When the Typhoon project's Sabre is up and running again in the next 2-3 years, it'll be interesting to hear it in HQ audio and hopefully hear it in real life. IMO it's the best-sounding WWII inline.

Edited May 27, 2021 by Lythronax