Someone said to me that it could be the torque converter. Does that sound like it to anybody???
It could be the front pump in the trans that is making the noise. It also could be the torque converter support bearing in the front pump, but that wouldn't explain why it only 'slips' in the forward gears. It also could be the main trans filter is clogged, and starving the main pump, which will cause a whine. If the trans works in reverse, the problem is internal to the trans. If the torque converter failed, the trans wouldn't work in reverse either.