Background

Lewis University's roots can be traced to it aviation program. In 1932, the school was founded as a boys technical school with courses focusing on aviation technology. During World War II the school closed and was given to the US Navy to train pilots. Today, the Department of Aviation continues to be one of the most popular programs at Lewis University. Corporate, private, and test flights are constantly taking off and landing at the campus airport. Hearing these planes is inevitable on a walk around campus. For the recordings below, I stood close to the runway and recorded as the planes taxied around the runway. I also recorded several airplanes starting up their engines. This audio was recorded with a Marantz Solid State Recorder (PMD660) and a Shure SM57. These common, frequent sounds are important to the soundscape of Lewis University and are unique to this school, which was founded on aviation.

Rudy Brynac
December 2009