2006-07-07 10:22:03 · 11 answers · asked by ilessthanthreeyou 3 in Travel ➔ Air Travel
The engines are designed to thrust force backwards, to propel the plane forward in the air. Once they land, you can hear the pilot engage the thrust reversers to help slow the plane down. But they cannot use these to fly.
And when they are on the ground, they use those flat white trucks to push the airplanes backwards out of the jetway area. Other than that, they never need to back up.
2006-07-07 10:34:23 · answer #1 · answered by Jeannie 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes. By hovering, facing east, over the equator.
It can do this by flying at top speed toward the west then cutting the engine, gliding to a stop, turning completely around and just hovering for a few seconds.
It takes a very skilled pilot to do this and it also requires an aircraft with expandable wings.
All Passengers have to be rigidly fastened in their seats to prevent their moving about and changing the flight characteristics of the aircraft.
To increase the chances of success, this maneuver should be done on Saturday morning when most of the local aircraft are on the ground and not flying about where they would create turbulence the sky.
2006-07-07 10:44:34 · answer #2 · answered by Mr.Been there 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes actually, commercial jets can use their reverse thrusters to back out from the gate. This is usually not done because it is loud, scares passengers and for wing mounted engines, can stir up debris in front of the engine, that can get sucked in, causing engine damage. Planes, such as the MD80, with engines near the rear sometimes do 'power-back' at airports during peak times. It is loud, but very possible.
2006-07-08 07:39:19 · answer #3 · answered by white_snow3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, During pushbacks from the gate called "powerbacks" where no ground crew tug is needed to push the aircraft out of the gate. Northwest airlines performs this on alot of their DC 9's.
2006-07-08 09:21:06 · answer #4 · answered by dairyland26 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No which is why when the plane is pulling out to taxi out to the runway they have the little trucks pulling them back. So no they can't go backwards on the ground or in the air.
2006-07-07 11:05:42 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Airplanes cannot go backwards unless the tug car pushes it!
2006-07-07 15:35:36 · answer #6 · answered by GreekMonsta090 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I once saw a commercial jet use its reverse thrusters to back out of a gate. Have only seen this once but did see it with my own eyes.
2006-07-07 11:11:37 · answer #7 · answered by TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when it is taxing yes, when it is flying no.
2006-07-07 10:25:46 · answer #8 · answered by isoar4jc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no way
2006-07-07 10:25:19 · answer #9 · answered by redunicorn 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no
2006-07-07 10:25:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋