Use of engine reverse in flight

[JammedStab]

I know the Galaxy is approved to do it. Any other military types?

[Banggearo]

C-17.........

[Double Zero]

Harrier ?!

Well, sort of, a bit.

And the Galaxy & C-17 probably try to avoid actually flying backwards.

[punkalouver]

Can the C-17 use reverse at idle on approach?

[Uncle Ginsters]

No - it can be used in the descent but not with the slats extended (due to the exhaust flow). Even so, and albeit with an acceleration, it can still achieve up to 20,000fpm RoD.

It certainly makes for an interesting (and mostly green) view from the flightdeck of a 200ton jet!

Uncle G

[411A]

Not a military type, however, the DC-8 (some series) are approved, inboards only, as I recall.

[matkat]

411A you are indeed correct it was for the -71 & -73 fitted with the CFM motors, I was flying into Lagos with Southern when the Capt used them and for his trouble got wacked on the back of the head by the FE as He was worried about them stowing and being stuck there, as the flt mech I was not overly happy about the situation either

[brakedwell]

All DC8's had reverse thrust on the inboard engines as no speedbrakes were fitted. Flap settings were limited when reverse was used.

[cazatou]

The Mk 1 Andover was cleared for STOL landings from a 6 degree approach selecting reverse just before touchdown.

[Green Flash]

it can still achieve up to 20,000fpm RoD.

It certainly makes for an interesting (and mostly green) view from the flightdeck of a 200ton jet!

Uncle G

I'm tempted to say 'no sh!t Sherlock' but it does sound fairly hairy! I've see empty ones go up like a rat up a drainpipe but 20K per min downwards (intentionally) must give you lots of options in a (mostly brown?) tactical environment.

[peterperfect]

Yak 40 centreline engine. It is used for some FSU Military transport.
pp

[TheInquisitor]

The Herc K can also do it - the only limitation on use of reverse thrust is a speed one - not above 115kts IIRC. It has been done in the sim to quite dramatic (and controllable) effect (1nm short finals, 5000ft agl, successful landing!)- however, it'd take some cojones to try it in the aircraft....prop hangup, anyone?

[Krakatoa]

Reverse Thrust

The Trident reversed thrust, (outers) could be used anytime, any speed, right down to turning off the runway. Very useful on a shortish runway when you could be pulling reverse in the flare.

[exscribbler]

Oooer, missus!

[Warmtoast]

There's a YouTube video of a C-130 landing on the USS Forrestal. The comentary mentions that the pilot selected reverse thrust before landing.

Video here: YouTube - C-130 Hercules on an Aircraft Carrier!!

C-130 landing and take-off sequence starts about 2-mins into the video

[matkat]

Bakedwell are you sure that the JT 3s had a in flight reverse capability? as my memory thinks they could not, though no speedbrakes as such they had inboard and out ground/flight spoilers that deployed on touchdown spent many an hour in the german cargo hangar rigging them.

[BigJoeRice]

At World, our DC8-63's with the JT3D-7 had inflight reverse capability on the inboards only.

[US Herk]

Used to be relatively common procedure on C-130 in Viet Nam...

As mentioned, used during Forrestal trials...

Fairly frowned upon these days as it makes for a rather unpleasant landing!

...overall, not approved however.

[wrecker]

With The Gripper you could achieve 15000fpm down and more if you dropped the main wheels at 300kts. Trouble was the self loading cargo didn't like it

[N Joe]

Urban Myth?

Even though it's gated through the WoW on Tornado, it's still a bad idea to pre-select thrust-reverse on approach because if you make a hash of the landing, it kicks-in just as you bounce and makes your second landing even heavier!

N Joe