Question Why is the Carbon Cub FX-3 so deafening loud in the cockpit?

[Neal]

I remember back in my PPL days flying 152's and 172's not requiring hearing protection or even a headset, you could use the audio through the ceiling mounted speaker, although I did use a headset of some type. Now in the Carbon Cub FX-3 I'm amazed how loud it is in the cockpit. While I wear Bose A20's integrated into my former Air Force helmet, making it even more sound proof, it's not a big deal. But when flying my dog and her hearing protection slid off, I took off my headset to see how loud it was and was shocked, I air aborted to avoid causing my dog to go deaf. My Apple Watch often alerts on the sound levels.

Why is the FX-3 with IO-360 so incredibly loud in the cockpit?

 

[Cactus Charlie]

Why is the FX-3 with IO-360 so incredibly loud in the cockpit?

Because sound proofing adds weight and CC are obsessed with weight saving.

I'm sure it could be made much quieter with a thicker windshield, thicker firewall, thicker fire wall padding, and sound deadening material on the inside of the boot cowl. All that adds weight forward and would require more weight added aft to manage the CG.

If CC offered a heavy quieter FX-3 and a lighter noisier FX-3 which would you have purchased?

The early Husky used to be the noisiest aircraft I had flown but I think the FX-3 is worse. I like having the takeoff performance but power comes way back as soon as obstacles are clear.

 

[Neal]

If CC offered a heavy quieter FX-3 and a lighter noisier FX-3 which would you have purchased?

The numbers would be interesting to see. I am probably one of the heaviest FX-3's built with paint, BRS, cargo pod and my hoarding of stuff inside on the tacnets, etc. The weight difference would not change where I fly into or out of, I never intend to press the limits. No, I wouldn't want to be heavier than I am now at around 1300 dry but there are tradeoffs. If it were 20 lbs to drop 20-30 dB - yeah, I'd probably take it. If I wanted the light plane option I would have chosen the SS, and now we have the UL but as the UL came along a lot was learned in weight savings that could offset that's available now that wasn't years ago. (Oratex, titanium gear, EarthX, etc. etc.)

And yes, as my instructor taught me, getting 2500 RPM (or lower) after takeoff is being kind to the neighbors, the noise is something to consider.