Russian planes idle reverse before touchdown

[Olympic260]

I have seen manu pictures that shows Russian planes to have the reverse buckets on before touchdown. I have read somewhere that there is a reason for that. Since I can't find the source anyone knows why this is done?

A pic
http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=512132


Chris

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

I don't think that's too unusual Chris as I've seen that happen thousands of times with "western" aircraft types.

[PPRuNe Dispatcher]

If I remember correctly, both the DC-8 and Trident were certified to use reverse thrust to increase rate of descent....

PPD

[av8boy]

But in the flair?

[sir.pratt]

tupulovs don't have much flair, but as it's in the flare, probably at idle, what's the problem?

[CV880]

DC8 actually relied on in-flight reverse for emergency descent since its spoiler system was only for low speed roll control or on-ground lift dump ie. no in-flight speed brake function. It was not normal to select reverse before touchdown although I witnessed it once when a Swissair DC8-62 made a fairly hot approach into Kai Tak Rwy 13 and selected reverse crossing the threshhold. Deployment of the reversers was quite obvious.
Don't know anything about Tridents but read somewhere it was common practice to select reverse just prior to touchdown and this was noticeable watching BEA landing at LHR years ago.

[primreamer]

BA Tridents certainly did use reverse thrust in the flare. Witnessed this several times while travelling in the flt deck jump seat on the Shuttle route back in the 1980's. At the time I was under the impression that the Trident was the only "western" aircraft certificated to do this as a standard procedure.

[The SSK]

I've experienced it in a BKS Trident landing on a snow-covered runway at Newcastle. The back end came down with a bit of a thump.

[Dan Winterland]

C17s can select reverse when airborne as well.

[JediDude]

I'm sure I've seen a KLM Fokker-100 use reverser buckets before touchdown, it might've been in my imagination though

[Bell Man]

You can select beta or reverse thrust/pitch in the Twin Otter as well. It's saved me and a lot of other pilots in PNG from airstrip over runs. Some C&T Captains I have flown with get a bit negative about using beta just prior to touch down in the Twin Otter as there is a chance that you may blow MLG blocks out. I have seen a few blocks blow out,but I would rather explain how I blew a pair of rubber U/C blocks out,than a wrecked Twin Otter off the side of an airstrip in the middle of no where. By the way I have never poped any Twin Otter blocks in my 3,000 hours flying Twin Otters.

[Farrell]

Originally Posted by sir.pratt

tupulovs don't have much flair, but as it's in the flare, probably at idle, what's the problem?

Laughed my sad ass off at that.

[chevvron]

Mig 29s stream their brake chutes before touchdown; does that count?

[Özcan]

An old company called Gabon Express that used to have a caravelle in it's fleet always used both speedbrakes and reverse several seconds before touchdown

If you're interested, world air routes has got a "documentary" where the man with the camera got to ride several jumpseats and filmed it all. Quite impressive stuff

[despegue]

You can even reverse the B737 below 10ft.
It guarantees a smacker though!!

[Mr Levitator]

Prob ok on a a/c with center line or close to....... engines. But on a 73 you'd have real issues if just one came out. I'd not like to see the results.

Mr L.