Parkfell
"ROD ? In reverse centre engine.."
The Trident could use reverse on the outer engines in flight. Although people speak nostalgically of RoDs of 12000+, clearly the risk of catching up the cabin had to be considered. However, it did make it easier to reduce speed and height simultaneously.
It has to be stressed that in a hot and high situation close to the airport, gradient is more important than losing height at high speeed.
As a corollary, in a visual circuit there is never any point in proceeding downwind at high speed past the airport.