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I have heard at least 1 aircraft with reverse gear, for on the ground.
Hope your not talking about in the Air. Early studies reminded us, aircraft need forward
(usually) airspeed to fly. Problem was you had to Stop before putting into reverse. They dropped like a rock
Aircraft with Slow airspeed and good headwind, you can fly backwards. Fuel Consumption
Sucks, Not the best view.
Actually, there are quite a number of aircraft with "reverse gears."
Jet aircraft thrust reversers work by having the cowling come back sort of like a clamshell behind the exhaust and redivert the thrust. Done for a long enough time and without sufficinent airflow, this can cause engine overheating and possible compressor stall. That why jets seldom back away from the gate. Mostly reverse thrust is used to slow down on landing.
Prop aircraft (including turboprops) back by changing the pitch of the propellor so the air blows forward instead of backwards.
The big thing about backing aircraft is to use forward thrust to stop. Don't use the brakes, since the airplane tends to settle on the tail if you do that.
As far as using reverse thrust in the air -- it's been done. Back in the 1980's the Navy was experimenting using C-130 aircraft to resupply carriers (no tailhook - no catapult). The aircraft was put into reverse thrust on final approach and crashed onto the deck in typical Navy landing fashion. Normal assualt landing (Air Force) is done at up to 500 feet per minute rate of descent. (Herky Birds are tough). I have no idea how hard the C-130s hit the carriers, but I'll bet a cup of Navy coffee, that it could be felt throughout the ship. It'a a classic case of an irresistable force impacting an immovable object.
The Navy did quite a bit of testing but with only 3 feet between wingtip and tower, thought better of the idea.
dflak& Stratmando- I first was on the b-47 jet bomber,{ six engine jet, then the props. c-123, c130 H, Plus civil aircraft Ive flown, I still hold {asmelI} license . Stratma ndo, most people wont and dont believe about flying ,backwards,( YES IT CAN BE DONE , When you nose into a head wind that is above the stall speed of the aircraft,pull throdle back and nose up , and the head wind WILL carrier you backward. ) Now , yes aircraft " DO" have reverseon them , jets have spoillers on leading edges that come out alittle bit,and the flaprons are dropped down, causeing the exhust gas from the jets to hit the flaps or flaparons, causeing push back on the a/c, slowing it down. Props- On the throtle control ,after on the ground, the throtles are pulled all the way back ,lifted up and pulled into reverse position, which causes the blades of the props to rotate, and they will be pushing into the wind, (PUSHING AIR FORWARD AGAINST THE AIR, sloweing the a/c down without heating up the brakes and burning them up, it is possible to cause a fire at the wheels.. not only military have these systemsd ,so do cilvil a/c, GOOD DAY & GOD BLESS;;;;GOOD FLYING;;;' F.B.E.
Lobrobster::::- In answer to commercial jets have Reverse thuresters. The answer is ( YES ) Even the commercial prop. aircraft do Have a good day GOD BLESS :::: F.B.E.
Stratmando ::::- Maybe she was on the aircraft that was susposed to be trying to take off on the question (will this aircraft take off) Hope not because it will. HaHa. GOOD DAY GOOD FLYING ;; F.B.E.
HAHA!! quite an imagination my friend! Well, if there was reverse, they would have to reverse the wings now wouldn't they? and the jets, and how exactly would the pilots see behind them? It's easier and more logical to make a turn.