DC9 Ground Reverser Powerback

[onecheman]

From 0:00 to 0:10 "oh shit man I had put 1rst gear instead of reverse

[hammerogod]

It's OK to do that if you don't blow a wheel chock into the spleen of one of the ground crew.

Most airport managers won't allow it.

What this video isn't showing is how much FOD is being thrown around.

[wfd8122]

I've seen this at detroit dozens of times. Only at detroit tho. And mostly onlt DC9s. I wonder why this is the only place that does it often??

[sbentjies]

I agree with Chris-why no tug? All that fuel for what a tug could do. They don't normally do it for efficiency reasons and I understand there is a FOD risk in doing this on the ramp, probably no more so than on the runway but still seems wasteful. I remember it used to be pretty common. A tug would barely use any gas to do this. With NWA prior to merger it wouldn't surprise me if the tugs were broken

[Chris4400]

Why was this done? No tug available?

[robyh09]

WOW. that is rare. and could damage the engines. XD!

[JSpindler1124]

Very rare indeed! :) Way to go!

[MaroonCamaro]

Reverse thrusting out of the gate isn't allowed.

[willghass]

It's not good for the engines because rocks can get blown into it.

[Bruce1949919]

I don't think this is good on the engines

[finalcitrus]

@Bruce1949919 It might seem that way but it's 100% ok.

[ReShawna2k20]

When Eastern Airlines was! That was something I experienced on board D9's as well as the 27's mid to late 80's a wonderful airline gone now so sad...

[prglg]

Ohhhh boy....this is SO wrong!

[TheCannonofMohammed]

This was regularly done only with planes powered by the JT-8 series PW engines. 727's, DC-9's & MD-80's. Any modern jet can do it, but for reasons of safety & fuel burn its no longer an economically feasible procedure

[temaskell08]

OMG no dislikes how cool is that

[halnwheels]

I think the pilot was trying to make a schedule and decided not to wait any longer! Ordinarily not a very efficient use of fuel. Does anyone know what the typical ratio of jet thrust is between normal and reverse with a given power setting?

[reeniewhalen]

Hit the brakes! Nearly forgot to apply the deflectors at the start of the pushback.

[spiff1003]

Have you witnessed this recently?? I kinda thought this was a thing of the past.

[555SexyAndIKnowIt555]

Wow a DC9 With his own actual pushback. Its normally imposybal because of the weigh.

[spiff1003]

@555SexyAndIKnowIt555 This has been "common" to some extent for the DC9. Don't know if this is DC9-specific, but I've never seen any other A/C do this. The problem with this pushback is that it is extremely noisy for people on the ground and any foreign objects on the tarmac can be turned into lethal projectiles flying at high speed toward the terminalbuilding. Some tests with this was done in Oslo years ago at FBU, but it was discarded for the above mentioned reasons. Does this still happen?

[GringoMuchachos]

The first time i use flight simulator, i didn't no how to pushback airplane, so i use reverser, it's nice to see it in real life !!!

[MrFly757]

@GringoMuchachos Press shift P then again to stop.



[YoACC]

I'm honestly surprised they didn't that since most airports don't recommend it and its hard on an aircraft

[Helicopterpilot16]

Oh My God the JT8D makes a sound like no other! Best engine in the world!

[vivian2gin]

Northwest stopped doing this long before Delta took over...

[JRhea777]

When I worked with Northwest years ago in Minneapolis, this was a regular thing. The DC 9's would come some gates and get themselves out once it was time to depart.

[jfsa380]

not waiting for tugs

[jfsa380]

i like the powerbacks, its like 'im going now...beep, beep, beep...okay, and off i go

[retardedcentaur]

You are so lucky to catch this rare phenomenon with your own eyes!!! These are rarer than total eclipses, comets, elections......

However, not many people may find it exciting, just the way i do not find the "Justin Beiber kissing Selena Gomez" video exciting at all!!!

Great Video mate!!!

[ceconk123]

@retardedcentaur LOL HE RECORDED THIS WITH CAMERA POINTED AT HIS MONITOR.Look at the lines in ths screen

[hhss8228]

@ceconk123 No. The lines on the screen is a subtle pattern on the glasses of the windows of Detroit Airport Terminal. You can verify this if you go there, or somebody who frequents this airport can testify that this is true.

[slowpoke96Z28]

@retardedcentaur it used to be real common until the noise nazis and FOD monsters started making terminal rules. miss it.

[retardedcentaur]

@slowpoke96Z28 I have just read of it in books and yes i undrstand its impractical to do it all the time considering the points you mentioned, the cost penalties, the engine hour-schedule and re-ingestion problems, coz basically, it is thrust reversing at low speeds. I would have loved to be in that time when it was common.

[slowpoke96Z28]

@retardedcentaur it was sweet to watch and listen to.

[Ilovealtoids]

@retardedcentaur Why do pilots do this anyway. Isn't it bad for the building and anything in front of the aircraft??

[retardedcentaur]

@Ilovealtoids Not at all, thrust reversers in these modern turbofans only reverse the cold fan air, and it is around 35 to 50% (percentage may vary with different designs) of total engine rated thrust. Besides, thrust is reversed at an acute angle of around 45 degrees. You can see in the video, it doesn't even harm the wings directly in front of it. Other structures and buildings are still far away.

[Ilovealtoids]

@retardedcentaur wow. Thank you for your answer. I've seen thrust blow cars out of the way when a plane is at full power and obviously this isn't quite as forceful as that, but I would imagine that windows could be blow out at least.

[retardedcentaur]

@Ilovealtoids Oh! that video blowing a Ford Mondeo away featured a B747-400 which is a much huger aircraft. While blowing cars is possible with this engine, but u know that was take-off power, while thrust reversing is at a lower power setting. Even so, windows will be fucked up if they come in the way of the escaping gas!!!!

[hkgyyzhkg]

I thought they don't do that anymore?

I was on one of the dc 9 that pushes itself back in 2006, it was great, but i don't think any passsengers find it unique...

[PeterNGloor]

@hkgyyzhkg

I did.