3 ms·
Sometimes you'd like to have reverse thrust in-flight if you want to descend really, really quickly. Airliners don't have that feature anymore, but the C-17 and
by rpeden 8y ago
Sometimes you'd like to have reverse thrust in-flight if you want to descend really, really quickly. Airliners don't have that feature anymore, but the C-17 and C-5 do.
Actually, maybe some ex-Soviet airliners can still do it. DC-8s being used by cargo airlines could possibly still technically do it, but don't use the ability.
- mrguyorama 8y agoSpecifically, it wasn't a design goal of reverse thrust, and it's operation mid-flight was directly responsible for over 200 innocent lives lost[0]. Thrust reversers are very much a "nice to have" feature on turbofan aircraft, with every one qualified to both land and initiate a rejected takeoff at maximum weight without using them, though not without some maintenance after. [0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauda_Air_Flight_004 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauda_Air_Flight_004