Editing Openai/69173363-9fc0-8005-91f2-88c42aec9b99 (section)

=== Assistant: Here’s a quick side-by-side so you can see just how big the gap is: ===
Here’s a quick side-by-side so you can see just how big the gap is:

| Aircraft               | Typical Cruise Cabin Noise        | Takeoff/Climb Spike | Notes                                                                                                |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Boeing 737             | 60–65 dB (front), 65–70 dB (rear) | 75–80 dB            | Modern jet engines are far back, noise is mainly airflow and systems hum.                            |
| King Air E90           | 85–90 dB                          | 95+ dB              | Turboprops generate continuous prop/gearbox noise; ear protection strongly recommended on long legs. |
| Cessna 414A Chancellor | 82–88 dB                          | 90+ dB              | Piston twin—prop and engine vibration dominate; much louder than jets.                               |
| Conversation Reference | ~60 dB                            | —                   | For context—737 forward cabin cruise is about conversation-level noise.                              |

Key differences:
* Jets like the 737 have engines mounted far behind most passengers, and aerodynamic noise is smoother.
* Turboprops (King Air) and piston twins (Cessna 414) put propellers just a few feet from the cabin wall, making them inherently louder and more fatiguing.
* In small aircraft, hearing protection is not just for comfort—it’s for long-term hearing health, especially for kids.

If you’re planning a 3-hour flight with children, the noise in a King Air or Cessna 414 will be tiring without proper protection, whereas a 737 is generally fine without headsets.

I can also show you a noise exposure time vs. hearing risk chart if you want to see how quickly those 80–90 dB levels add up.