Originally Posted by JW411
FoxHunter:
Many thanks for confirming that the DC-8-70 series can indeed use reverse in the air. I admit to being surprised for I was told that the practice had ceased many years ago.
Do many DC-8 operators out there still use reverse in the air as an SOP procedure?
Have not flown the DC8 since 89' but I'm sure most operators try to avoid using it. You could use it up to Mmo/Vmo but I never used it above 250K on the -73s that I flew. Sometimes it was required because the re-engined DC8s had a high flight idle and once you slowed to 250K clean your V/S was around 800-1000 fpm, no speed brakes available, highest flap speed was around 230k, gear speed also about the same. There were problems with the flaps caused by using them at the max speed. The only good option was to use idle reverse.