Reversers

[Davoos15]

You know how you can choose keys for different actions? For instance, "P" is "Pause," which is default, and I set "A" as "airbrake." Well, I've looked unsuccessfully for something that says reverse, so when I touch down, instead of going from my joystick to my mouse to get the engines in reverse, I can just simply hit a key on the keyboard. I can't find it in the key-commands though. Is it there?

[kagazi]

F2 reverse thrusters until 60 knots or so then F1 to idle the engines.

[Davoos15]

oh, ok. thanks.

[Slotback]

Tap F2 to unlock reversers. Hold F2 to spool up the engines.

[TSC.]

F2 reverse thrusters until 60 knots or so then F1 to idle the engines.

You have to tap F1 first as the reverse thrust (F2) won't engage unless the engines are idled first.



TSC.

[kagazi]

I use my throttle quadrant on my joystick to idle just before touchdown.  I guess I just assumed the same here, but you're correct.  If using the keyboard only then you need to tap F1 first.

[uncleyuk]

 I assigned the spoiler key to button 7 on my joystick.  Push once for on, push again for off.

[Fr. Bill]

[quote]

[Davoos15]

thanks for the help everyone. landing a 747 is now a lot easier!

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

thanks for the help everyone. landing a 747 is now a lot easier!

It's got 16 brakes, why put wear and tear on the motors lol.

[Davoos15]

or, it's got four reverse engines, why put the wear and tear on the brakes?  ;)

[macca22au]

You're doing it to make sure you land safely, and always on the runway and not overshoot.  It's the combination of autobrake and reversers that ensure this plane with its enormous inertia comes down to 60kts as quickly as possible.

Believe me, the airlines are so miserly these days that if they could do without one or the other they would.  And they don't.  Have a look at some of the photos of RW overshoots, not pretty, not good for lives, and bad for careers.

[OVERLORD_CHRIS]

You're doing it to make sure you land safely, and always on the runway and not overshoot.  It's the combination of autobrake and reversers that ensure this plane with its enormous inertia comes down to 60kts as quickly as possible.

Believe me, the airlines are so miserly these days that if they could do without one or the other they would.  And they don't.  Have a look at some of the photos of RW overshoots, not pretty, not good for lives, and bad for careers.

We know we know, we are just messing around. I talked to an Atlas/Polar pilot that used to fly C-141A's, and he said on the Classic 747-200's, they are told to use the T/R's as much as needed to save on the brakes, but on the 747-400's, they are told to leave them in reverse idle, while maximizing the newer better brakes. Something about the Anti Skid not wearing out the brakes when the T/R's are used with the newer brakes and the newer anti skid system....it does not let the composites heat up correctly and do their job, so the cool down, and then heat up repeatedly causing the stopping distance to be longer.

[Slotback]

Usually autobrakes (Unless MAX) are a fixed rate of decelleration therefore it won't matter if you use T/Rs or not. ALWAYS a good idea to unlock them though.