Well I read that the Boeing C-17 can do it for certain combat situations, and the concorde was also able to do it.Kevin W.

Concorde! We have a winner. :( Concorde was, apparently, so d&%m 'slippery' that above Mach 1 it took a little 'help' to slow-down in a reasonable amount of time (and distance!)Again, another great example with the C-17, I believe I have read that , also. Thanks Ace!Cheers!

That's good info. When I was "much" younger, I loved the Concorde. I was very sad to see it retired after that crash :'(Let me ask this question,,, why is it bad, or hard on the engines to use reverse thrust under 60 (or some say 80) knots? Is it only because the amount of time it would be in reverse thrust by that time?Also, the C-17 is much different, but the Concorde using reverse thrust in the air makes sense to why their ticket prices cost so much, hehe :(The one thing I loved about the Concorde was the fact that it's fuselage actually stretched in flight due to it's speed. It was a pretty amazing aircraft and I hope we see something similar soon.

I'm pretty sure it was the DC8 but I'm probably way off...

Rob,First answer..... RIGHT answer.For me you'r the Winner!!!!!Reverse thrust during flight on the inner engines was possible on the DC-8's.Was allowed and could be used to expedite descent where deemed necessary.On the passenger versions after making a PA announcement of course.Regards,Harry

Yes, I was almost sure for DC-8 and sure for Concorde! For DC-8 the reason was than speedbrake usage was allowed only on the ground and never while airborne. Sam

Yes, I was almost sure for DC-8 and sure for Concorde! For DC-8 the reason was than speedbrake usage was allowed only on the ground and never while airborne. Sam

Hi Sam,Didn't know about the Concorde myself.Even for the DC-8 I don't fully remember the rules to use speedbrakes, it's more then 25 years ago.What I still remember is the use of reverse during flight, cause it's hefty.Regards,Harry

That's good info. When I was "much" younger, I loved the Concorde. I was very sad to see it retired after that crash :'(Let me ask this question,,, why is it bad, or hard on the engines to use reverse thrust under 60 (or some say 80) knots? Is it only because the amount of time it would be in reverse thrust by that time?

I *think* the speed restriction for Reverse Thrust on modern commercial aircraft is more due to possible FOD ingestion than anything else. Too true, Turbine, about Concorde - what an aircraft! The very pinnacle of aviation in many ways...and likely never to be exceeded (the Mach 2.3+ speed on a commercial aircraft), well, at least for a long, long time anyway. Now there's an idea for a software product that I, personally, would pay double the usual going rate for quality add-ons if PMDG did their magic on Concorde! Can you imagine?!?Anyway - thanks everyone for the great responses! I know I learned quite a bit of new info...and that's really why I posted in the first place. :( Cheers!

Quick quiz to test your knowledge of the arcane: Which commercial airliner allowed Reverse Thrust...in flight? :( First to answer gets...well, nothing but pride and accolades for knowing airliner trivia! My guess is it won't take long for PMDG'ers! :( Cheers!

HS Trident used reverse in air long before Concorde as did some of the early Soviet airliners like Il-62, TU-104 and TU154. The clean winged DC8 also used reverse similar to Concorde - reverse idle to just the inboards on descent (DC8 had no speedbrakes or spoilers).

I am lucky enough to have flown on concorde. Felt pretty much like any other aircraft most of the time, :( apart from take-off and landing. :( I'll never forget the take-off, really being 'pinned' to my seat. :( Sorry to change the topic ever so slightly!!Martin.

Reverse thrust is generally not used on turbofans below certain groundspeeds to reduce the likelihood of foreign object damage, FOD. There are very few aircraft whose operators licence the use of reverse thrust for pushback, often, the airport itself is likely to refuse to allow the use.For reverse thrust to be used to pushback from a stand or gate, the engines will have to be started on stand, which is not very common at a lot of major airports. Engine starts are only carried out after pushback has begun, and sometimes not until pushback to the taxiway has been completed, it depends on operational requirements.There are quite a few turboprop regionals that CAN pushback with reverse, though many operators categorically forbid its use except for emergency purposes, as the likelihood of prop blade damage from foreign objects is higher.I have read ands seen videos of AA MD80 series aircraft using reverse to push back, though I cannot remember where. I have not read everything there is on the MD-11, not by a long shot, but I have never heard of one using reverse thrust to push back, ever. It could only be done I guess at the lowest weights, and certainly not fully laden near MTOW...Andrew

Gee, it's been a while since I've posted anything here. Anyway, another note about the reverse system on any high bypass engine (like those found on the MD-11) is that ONLY the bypassed air is redirected. The exhaust is still shot out the back meaning to an extent, you still have forward thrust on the engine itself. This is why the engine seems even noisier; you don't have the bypass air dampening the sound during reverse operation. Those aircraft that do use reverse to pushback are usually those with clamshell systems. (I personally don't know of any cascade or petal reverser equipped aircraft that can use reverse to, you know, reverse. Maybe the CRJ's?) Mainly this is because of FOD risks. Also, notice how nearly all clamshell systems are found on engine that are high off the ground like the B717 or Concorde. Ever notice the B737-200 having their doors open at about a 45* angle instead up up and down? And no, that didn't always solve the ground clearance problem. I've heard stories of pilot's who deployed the reverser with the nose gear still off the ground and dragging the bottom bucket across the runway.You'll also notice (well maybe only those who fly IRL) that smaller corporate jets like the Gulfstream sometimes open their reverser buckets while taxiing. This way they don't have to use the brakes to keep their speed under control. I usually only see this after they've landed though. But once again, you've just landed and kick the temp of the brakes way up. Do you really want to be using them every thirty seconds to keep your speed down while you taxi? Ryan

ok first dont critize me,and i know that its dangerous to pushback with reversers.its only a question take it easy and i know that the fmgc has a pushback function but i dont know how to know how much degress,lebgth etc.

Well play with it. Your aircraft is 200 ft long, so if you want to back up one and half plane length then backup 300 ft. If you want to make a 90 deg turn to line up with a taxiway perpendicular with the parking spot your angle is 90. There are not hidden tricks here. Pretty straightforward.The airplane length is on AGEN.50.1Yunus, full names here please.

Just to add to this. I think the minimum length you can enter (or whatever the top values were) is 24. I normally set it for 24, then the degree of turn depends on what gate I'm at and the surrounding area of course. The harder part for me is to remember which side to have it turn to, right or left. I have some other programs I use with a similar setting that differs so it can be hard to remember. The way I think of it is think of it when your in the seat looking forward. If I want the nose to go to "My" left (looking out the window), then I would enter left. I know you're not asking that but for sake of being thorough...Most of the time I set PB for 24 & 90, but there are times the grass is very close to my tail, or there is an ubstruction, fuel tank, or woman sunbathing etc... So I the opt for 45. The total distance of pushback is then shorter and if I set the bank for 30, shorter still. Then I just use differential braking and the oposite engine for thrust with a little center engine to whip me around in a nice tight turn.One thing to keep in mind. If you use the jetway and have distance set to 24 and happen to forget to close the jetway prior to pushback, then be prepaired for it to possibly rip through your cabin :(

:( :( :( dont understand.i use normal pushback function to push my md-11 back B) Yunus Aktas

"or there is an ubstruction, fuel tank, or woman sunbathing etc... "Love the humor Dan, thanks for the laugh!!