I don't know about evocative, but I do remember, Soltau, parking my Sampson up in the early hours of the morning after working non stop, for about forty years (probably)
As I was in my dossbag, lying alongside the tracks of the Sampson, the whole battle group decided it would be a good idea to have an early start.
I don't know if it was the ground vibrating or the whine of the Challengers engines that woke me, but I'll never forget trying to cuddle up to the tracks as I ferventley hoped the the drivers of the Challys and Warriors weren't as tired as me.
If any Driver or Commander saw someone, through their TOGS, trying to make themselves as one with a Sampson in the early hours of the morning, it was probably me.
I must admit that the noise and vibration of an MBT at full throtttle is the most awesome experience ever.

Its the Merlin for me as well,

I live close to an airfield of the Breitling Real Aeroplane Company. Theres some chap occasionally flys a P51 across the tops of the hedgerows. Absolutely magnificent.

As for an evocative sight, my location is also under the westward side of the RAFs AWACS circle when controlling exercises. If i look up and see a curved contrail, a few minutes later will see the E3 (and a quick tune of the radio usually brings in the target vectoring channel!)

Cocking the SLR into which you just loaded a full mag of ball.

An Iroquois coming at you at top speed and zero feet.

RR Merlin as mentioned.

The two or three seconds of drum rolls that precede a military band breaking into full regimantal march mode.

I quite like the sound of V-engined cars, bikes, and when I see them aircraft. Was coming back from the east coast the other day and was overtaken by an Aprillia RSV 1000 at full throttle, lovely sound!! However, how fast and loud would this have been?Merlin Car

As previously said, the firts few thumps on a drum, quickly followed by the bugles blowing the opening bars of 'Mechanised Infantry'.

The soft mewling of a distant baby on a summers night.

'High on a Hill' and the sound the 4 buglers make as play off against each other.

The scraping sound made by a company drawing swords ( bayonets) from their scabbard prior to fixing. On a parade, of course.

Agree,d your point No4

Kate Bush, 'Army Dreamers'. Is there a Slur being cocked on that?

Nah - too short - "snick,snack' .....SLR cocking handle made a right CLANG! - a bell tone.

I used to sail a lot in Norfolk (booyur!) when I was a lad - the sound of halyards rattling against a mast in a marina or dinghy park is very evocative for me.

The distinctive sound of the tent poles in a 9x9, 12x12 or 18x24 tent as it is stripped down.

The clickety-clack of the Orderly Room in the '80s before PCs came in to use.

The high speed, high volume "Eft-Eyte-Eft-Eyte" as some miscreant was marched into the CO's office.

Another one for the Merlin. Hawker Hunter "blue note". The call of a Fish Eagle. Landy tyres.




Edited for web-footed spulleng

The sound of decking being slammed into place in quick time and knowing that you are moments away from completing yet another back crippling MGB build.

The very sound of it can make me reach for the brufen

The sound of a woman pleading, "Please don't hurt me, I'll do anything you want."

That takes me back.

The Last Post - Menin Gate. It's almost impossible to keep composure when it kicks off.

A Spitfire.

A pint being pulled.

Also evocative is the sound of an AK clacking away at close quarters - evocative of underwear-filling dread.

Sounds?

My kids snoring quietly in the summer heat in France.
The Scarey One moaning as she gets her just desserts as I rug-munch.
Spuddy going "Fancy a brew?"
"End-Ex" on the radio.
Iain having yet another ND.
"Fire for effect".
The Last Post... still makes me shiver.
A sploosh as those biscuitsbrown hit the pan in ablutions.
Bagpipes.
"Fancy a Pint?"
My Dad.
My Dad telling me to fix us a drink before dinner. Doubles all round!
The "CRACK" as the canopy opens and you don't need to s**t yourself anymore.
Rounds overhead.
Getting into my bag and hearing everyone else's zipper going "Zuuuupppp" and knowing that 3 LSWs and other staggers are doing their stuff.
The "crack" as a bottle of Malt is opened.
etc.!

Echo that.
And the silence marked only by footsteps up the stairs to lay the wreaths.


A pint of Shepherd Neame Spitfire being pulled...

The whoosh of steam and the creaking of brakes being released as the train starts rolling off.

The flicka flicka flicka as the Police chopper passes overhead because you know some little scrote is running as fast as he can, hopefully to no avail.

Leaving Spa in my VW Beetle and thinking 'engine sounds good today'. Looked in mirror and right behind me was Vanwall with gawd knows how many cylinders blipping throttle en-route from F1 race to garages.
Sounds heard at a military funeral. Flowers of the forest in a Jock regiment by a lone piper. Hounds in full song and singing in kennels

The whine of the Alvis engine on the Stalwart and the change in pitch when undergoing flotation training acress the Weser at Hameln.

Agostini on a Moto Guzzi V8 coming down from Kates Cottage.

The sound of a Land Rover diff breaking up going at full tilt in low box

The gentle clickerty sound of a shotgun being closed behind you in the woods at night.

Napier Deltic pulling hard

Triple Packard petrols being wound up to full throttle (only heard it the once, never forgotten)

Rolls Royce B80, if I rememeber rightly. Has a lovely habit of spitting flames out of the exhaust