Isn't Airbus putting an electrical motor into the front landing gear which is powered by a little fuel cell? I believe they are going to test it very soon or testing it already. Next to saving fuel while taxing or waiting on the taxi way it will allow the airplane to push back on its own as well, so no need for a pushback truck anymore, which will save operation costs as well. On top of it it will reduce noise as well since the engines only need to be started at the holding point of the rwy and can be shut down right after landing. I find this idea very interesting.Norbert Plate

Yes they are!http://www.dlr.de/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-1/86_read-31408/

RIP, pushback vehicle you will be missed.

Isn't Airbus putting an electrical motor into the front landing gear which is powered by a little fuel cell? I believe they are going to test it very soon or testing it already. Next to saving fuel while taxing or waiting on the taxi way it will allow the airplane to push back on its own as well, so no need for a pushback truck anymore, which will save operation costs as well. On top of it it will reduce noise as well since the engines only need to be started at the holding point of the rwy and can be shut down right after landing. I find this idea very interesting.Norbert Plate

I'm pretty sure Boeing is testing the same concept.

I just tried yesterday and as Pete said single engine taxi works brilliantly. I'm not sure how helpful a still shot would be though. Anyway, you know how say your trying to follow procedure and you try and taxi F1's ATR single engine, but you need full rudder in direction of the engine and even then you don't keep a straight line? In the NGX, you hardly need any correction at all. As he said, it takes a bit of throttle but then again even in real life it would. And we aren't talking about very much either.For those wanting to do single engine taxi's, you will be very pleased!

I just tried yesterday and as Pete said single engine taxi works brilliantly. I'm not sure how helpful a still shot would be though. Anyway, you know how say your trying to follow procedure and you try and taxi F1's ATR single engine, but you need full rudder in direction of the engine and even then you don't keep a straight line? In the NGX, you hardly need any correction at all. As he said, it takes a bit of throttle but then again even in real life it would. And we aren't talking about very much either.For those wanting to do single engine taxi's, you will be very pleased!

OMG......Totally running out of words...:( PMDG, does the flush button in the toilet work as well?

I just tried yesterday and as Pete said single engine taxi works brilliantly. I'm not sure how helpful a still shot would be though. Anyway, you know how say your trying to follow procedure and you try and taxi F1's ATR single engine, but you need full rudder in direction of the engine and even then you don't keep a straight line? In the NGX, you hardly need any correction at all. As he said, it takes a bit of throttle but then again even in real life it would. And we aren't talking about very much either.For those wanting to do single engine taxi's, you will be very pleased!

Wow sounds incredible, thank you! And asking for a still shot was just a cheap shot to try to get some more screenshots (I can't get enough of them, they're like drugs haha).In real life (and even maybe in the internals of the NGX as well ), how does single engine taxi work? Does the airplane know that only one engine is running and compensates so you don't have to rudder in the direction of the running engine? I have always wondered this...Thanks!

In real life (and even maybe in the internals of the NGX as well ), how does single engine taxi work? Does the airplane know that only one engine is running and compensates so you don't have to rudder in the direction of the running engine? I have always wondered this...Thanks!

Although I do not know for sure, I would have to say no, the steering system doesn't know if one engine is running or two. But even then, unless you are using a huge amount of power, there should be enough traction from the nose gear on the ground to keep the aircraft running straight for the most part. After all it the traction wasn't enough, you'd probably wear out the nose gear if you routinely taxied on one engine from the stress of the gear always trying to force the aircraft to one side.Also remember, on the aircraft, the rudder and nose gear can be operated separately. (okay, real aircraft. I heard you might be able to rig FSUIPC to do the same thing but I don't have it set up.) So you could in fact fully deflect the rudder (which crews do during control checks) and the nose gear will still be pointed straight.

That's brilliant!

I'm not sure how helpful a still shot would be though.

How about a video? :(

Although I do not know for sure, I would have to say no, the steering system doesn't know if one engine is running or two. But even then, unless you are using a huge amount of power, there should be enough traction from the nose gear on the ground to keep the aircraft running straight for the most part. After all it the traction wasn't enough, you'd probably wear out the nose gear if you routinely taxied on one engine from the stress of the gear always trying to force the aircraft to one side.Also remember, on the aircraft, the rudder and nose gear can be operated separately. (okay, real aircraft. I heard you might be able to rig FSUIPC to do the same thing but I don't have it set up.) So you could in fact fully deflect the rudder (which crews do during control checks) and the nose gear will still be pointed straight.

Ah ok that makes sense now, thank you for the clear explanation. I didn't really think about the traction before, but that makes sense; you can use the rudder to help if need be but can still keep the good ol' tiller straight. Regards

Although I do not know for sure, I would have to say no, the steering system doesn't know if one engine is running or two. But even then, unless you are using a huge amount of power, there should be enough traction from the nose gear on the ground to keep the aircraft running straight for the most part. After all it the traction wasn't enough, you'd probably wear out the nose gear if you routinely taxied on one engine from the stress of the gear always trying to force the aircraft to one side.Also remember, on the aircraft, the rudder and nose gear can be operated separately. (okay, real aircraft. I heard you might be able to rig FSUIPC to do the same thing but I don't have it set up.) So you could in fact fully deflect the rudder (which crews do during control checks) and the nose gear will still be pointed straight.

Not sure - but I believe at full deflection of the rudder, the nose gear does have a 5 degree deflection? Could be wrong though!

RIP, pushback vehicle you will be missed.

Haha...Although I know a bunch of pilots who wouldn't trust themselves trying to back up an aircraft...myself included! (never flown anything that can reverse though).

I've marshaled a 737-200 that did a power back from the gate. I've also marshaled 727-200's and Saab-340's. The 737-200 and the Saab-340's were instances where there was no other option to get the aircraft off of the gate. The 727-200's were standard procedure because Pan Am's pilots damaged a couple of our jetways. Even did it with a foot of snow on the ground in a blinding snow storm. It's a little unsettling to see sparks come out of the front of the engine.

Not sure - but I believe at full deflection of the rudder, the nose gear does have a 5 degree deflection? Could be wrong though!

You do have limited nosewheel steering with the rudder pedals but it can be overridden with the tiller. So if you step on the left pedal but keep the tiller straight, the nose gear won't turn.

Haha...Although I know a bunch of pilots who wouldn't trust themselves trying to back up an aircraft...myself included! (never flown anything that can reverse though).

Perhaps a rear view camera would be standard equipment? :( In any case, I wouldn't want to attempt it without someone on the ground.