Eastern's 757s did PowerBacks out of EWR (interesting experience)I've been on MD 80s that have done it.I've tried on various FSX planes and it seems instead of going backwards, you just stay in place. (Maybe I was using planes that were a bit heavy though...)

The NGX will power back for me using thrust reversers. It'sa one of the few FS aircraft that will.

Most turbine aircraft, especially with wing mounted engines, can sustain engine damage at low speeds and reverse thrust. The major problem is that the hot exhaust gas can get sucked back into the intake and exceed the intake design limits. Also, as someone already mentioned, the 737 engine position is very low, and invites both FOD and overtemps.In other words, yes you can probably back it up with the engines (for a while) but it may be very expensive. :<)Tom Hill

tried simulating it on the NGX, but the airplane won't move backward with full reverse applied on the ground. Does this reflect reality?

you need to set the chocks->removed in order to see it work.using the pushback function automatically does this as part of the procedure but you can do it manually from the menu as well. (same place where you can set ground power, etc)whether it is a good idea or not, i think has been addressed in the thread. cheers,-andy crosby

Fuel - not even close to 100%Doors - ClosedEngines - StartedChocks - RemovedApron - ClearGround personell - Warned and clearPark brake - ReleaseReversers - idle reverseReversers - Full reverseIt'll take a little while to get moving, but it will.Trent Hopkinson.

Edited January 7, 201214 yr by hopskip

Not recommended for the 737 as the manual says. However I know of engine powered aircraft that can use this option. The Boeing C-17 being one of them.FOD ingestion however is the concern

For wing mounted engines it's not good practice because of the possibility of ingenstion and engine surge. And, of course at many airports engine start up cannot be done at the gate.However, with high mounted engines they are allowed to start up at the gate and at least have idle reverse thrust set to assist if they are heavy. It is for example in the VC10 flight manuel. Having said that it was not and still is not general practice as the RR Conways have a huge eflux signature.vololiberista

On the sim you can use thrust reversers to move the plane back, I did experiments few hours ago when testing the wrong Fuel Flow in reverse mode.I used the -800 with around 4000kgs of fuel and maybe 90 passengers.In real life, thrust reversers must not be used under 60/40kts for FOD risks.Remember that the 737 engines are very close to the ground and you can see tis by seeing the engine lower side that is near to be "flat" like someone cutted the lower part to add more ground clearance.

here you go. LOL

You cannot make comparisons between clamshell reversers with the translating sleeve ones, are completely different.

Just tried it with a weight of 82 tons: it takes me 40 seconds to get a backwards speed of 10 kts.If you can't push back, something is wrong.Bert Van Bulck

It used to be a fairly common occurence on the DC9 / MD80 types with their high mounted engines. Boeing never recommended it on the 737s and almost all airlines as well airports prohibit it. But it can be done on NGX if you are light enough.

here you go. LOL

Cool video. Note that they rolled forward first and then went backwards.I think at KDTW, you were only supposed to do power-backs on the East side of the A concourse (like A11!). After an ice storm, I did see a NWA DC-9-50 back away from the gate on the west side: He was turning in to his gate, and the whole plane started to slide sideways. CA threw out the buckets and got the plane away from the other parked jets. :(