Simviation Forums

What are they, what do they do, and where can I find it in a cockpit? Is there even such thing as them? Thanks!

reverse thrust slows down the aircraft when landing. When the aircraft reaches 60knots use normal thrust again. it can be found in the throttle quadrant. pull the throttles all the way back and you should have it. also use F2 to do this faster. and also there is real reverse thrust.

okay, cool thanks! so after i touchdown, activate reverse thrusters, and it should slow me down more? and is F2 the default key command? okay, well, i didnt know if it was just with space shuttles thanks!

Not all airplanes have it.  Typically, more modern military jets and airliners have it.

Basically, baffles or clamshells intercept and redirect the exhaust (relatively) forward so that the thrust is "reversed" and helps brake the aircraft.  THis is in addition to air brakes, spoliers, etc.

okay, cool, thanks. last question (i think  ::)): what do air brakes do, and when do you activate them?

Reverse thrust are flap type things on SOME engines which redirect air from the FAN backwards. This provides additional braking helping to slow the plane down and helps the brakes not overheat.

However, autobrakes decellerate the plane at a fixed speed, so reverse thrust will only help slow the plane down if you brake manually.

Two, on MOST jets, reverse thrust is always unlocked on landing. However, the engines are only throttled up if the braking is really needed, or the runway is short.

To unlock the thrust reversers tap F2. Hold F2 to throttle up the engines.

If nothing happens, your plane obviously dosn't have Thrust reversers.

what do air brakes do, and when do you activate them?

Airbrakes usually create drag on the plane, so it will slow down. However, autobrakes main funtion is to dump lift from the wing. This will cause the plane to decend. So if you raise the airbrakes, pull the nose up and you'll slow down quiet rappidly. Airbrakes (or spoilers), are sometimes used on approach, and always on landing.

However, it depends on the plane, and not all planes airbrakes work the same way. Most dump lift.

Press / to raise the lower and raise the spoilers. Press Shift+/ to arm the spoilers so that once you touch down they will go up. Spoilers on the ground will put loads of weight on the wheels, create some drag, helping to slow the plane.

To raise the spoilers only a little bit, you will USUALLY find the speed brake lever to the left of the Throttle quadrant.

Just for information: F2 is the default key assigned to "decrease engine thrust" or something like that.
If your engine is not at iddle, hitting and maintaining F2 will bring it to idle, but will not bring it to the "negative" zone (below idle) that would activate the reverse.

You will go to reverse with F2 only if your engines are already at idle.
Additionnaly, you have to know that sometimes, because of minor calibration problems, putting back to zero the power slider on your joystick may not be enough, it would not go "exactely" to zero, leading to the above situation.

So, if you want to be sure, before hitting F2 to try to enable the reverse, first hit F1. F1 is the default key for putting power to idle. So if you hit F1, you are sure that your engine is at idle, and you are sure that F2 will enable the reverse... if the reverse is available on your aircraft