Can Airplanes Reverse?
4 Answers
Some airplanes are indeed capable of autonomous "reversing" on the airport tarmac. Moreover, this "reversing" capability can also enable airplanes to decelerate rapidly in mid-air. There are two methods for airplanes to generate backward thrust as follows: 1. Electric; This method uses electric power to allow airplanes to perform operations such as reversing, turning, and maneuvering on the tarmac. Currently, this technology is still under development. 2. Redirecting exhaust airflow; By altering the direction of the engine's exhaust airflow—obviously, when the airflow is directed backward, the airplane moves forward; when the airflow is directed downward, the airplane can take off and land vertically like a helicopter, such as the F-35 fighter jet; when the airflow is directed forward, the airplane moves backward.
From the perspective of aircraft design, I understand that the thrust reverser on engines is primarily used for deceleration after landing, providing reverse thrust to assist braking, but it truly cannot reverse as effortlessly as a car. Aircraft engine thrust is designed to be unidirectional. If thrust reversers were forcibly used for backing up on taxiways, the control precision would be too poor, easily leading to accidents, such as collisions with ground equipment or baggage carts. Additionally, the noise is enormous, and the fuel consumption is excessively high, making it uneconomical. In practice, airports rely on specialized tow vehicles to push aircraft back to gates or adjust their positions, ensuring safe operations. This differs from cars, which have reverse gears—automotive transmissions allow for precise backward movement, whereas aircraft lack similar mechanical structures. Engine performance is optimized solely for forward thrust and deceleration functions, with much lower maintenance costs. Thrust reversers are only briefly activated during landing and are not a routine method for reversing.
Safety is always the top priority. I have experienced airport environments where planes are only allowed to move forward. If aircraft could reverse freely, pilots' limited visibility might lead to misjudging distances and causing collisions. Although certain types like general aviation aircraft could theoretically move backward briefly, the risks are too high in commercial operations, and history has witnessed tragedies from similar attempts. Engine reverse thrust is primarily used for deceleration, not as a reversing tool. Airport personnel use tow tractors for safe position adjustments. This differs significantly from car design—car reverse gears are simple to control, whereas aircraft thrust systems prioritize linear movement to ensure runway efficiency and safety protocols. The design intentionally avoids reverse options to minimize human error and enhance overall operational efficiency.
When I take flights, I notice that ground operations rely entirely on tug vehicles to move the engines forward, with no reverse function. Commercial airliners are designed to use reverse thrust only briefly for deceleration during landing and cannot reposition. Small private aircraft might be exceptions, but mainstream models like Boeing cannot do this due to control difficulties and safety concerns. Ground equipment such as baggage carts could easily be hit, so standard procedures avoid any attempts to reverse. This design ensures more stable taxiing.
