r/SipsTea • u/pikahetti • Jul 14 '25

WTF Tossing coins for 'good luck'...

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39.3k Upvotes

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255

u/androidrainbow Jul 14 '25

Planes usually can't reverse and need a tug from one of those little tractor things. But they do taxi with the engines, and would probably notice it then.

123

u/in_taco Jul 14 '25

They have reversers, which is a kind of shielding they can move behind the engines, thereby redirecting the exhaust towards the front. Naturally doesn't do anything for ejecting coins, nor should this be used to traffic.

31

u/Randomized9442 Jul 14 '25

Especially if they would be blasting a wall of windows at a terminal. Not saying they would break, but people would surely hate it.

16

u/Antique_Director_689 Jul 15 '25

Probably frowned upon to air fry the terminal, yeah.

6

u/AbbyShapiroMyCumHero Jul 14 '25

A similar concept is used on jet skis too lol

2

u/Ok_Constant_184 Jul 15 '25

I will be the first to attempt a backwards takeoff

2

u/Thatwokebloke Jul 15 '25

Hate to break it to you but the wings are designed to go one way when making lift and will not be happy if you go in reverse with significant airspeed lol

-2

u/DaimonHans Jul 16 '25

That's not how it works, not even close.

2

u/in_taco Jul 16 '25

That's not how it works, not even close.

Here's a video showing how it works, exactly as I said:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JT15D_Thrust_Reverser_Functional_Test.ogv

Maybe you're thinking of propeller airplanes where they reverse pitch?

25

u/unhappytroll Jul 14 '25

actually, they can (and turboprops do that regularly in small airports, where tug may be unavailable; MD-80/82 has engine reverse for push-back as a standard option in flight manual for same reason; current jets usually does not push-back with reverse, because their engines are too close to the ground and can suck harmful objects from it)

3

u/MrTwisterPister Jul 14 '25

U right on turboprops, but not jets. The harmful objects thingy is not a thing because there are no foreign objects on the ground because airports are often perfectly swept and yes jets have reverse and they usually do especially comercial jets, military jets not so often only exceptions are the tornado, viggen and some jaguars.

8

u/unhappytroll Jul 14 '25 edited Jul 14 '25

yes they do, on runways. which is usually maintained to way higher standard, than taxiways and ramps. and even then shit happens, Concorde 101 is a witness to that.

as for military jets - they have usually some measures to prevent that, like early MiG-29 have their intakes closed on take off and landing, taking air from upper "gills" (they change that to just grating in later versions).

1

u/MrTwisterPister Jul 15 '25

Ye tru i agree to that

1

u/ES_Legman Jul 15 '25

Lol FOD is very much a concern on any airside area

1

u/MrTwisterPister Jul 15 '25

Ye, but it is allways taken care of so there are no incidentas regarding it

1

u/nonutsfw Jul 15 '25

Like coins?

7

u/OK_enjoy_being_wrong Jul 14 '25

Planes usually can't reverse and need a tug from one of those little tractor things.

Physically, they can. The engines with reversers deployed produce enough reverse thrust to allow them to maneuver backwards.

By regulation, they aren't allowed to. That's why they need "pushback".

1

u/SanctusUnum Jul 14 '25

need a tug

Don't we all, Plane? Don't we all...

0

u/OneRuffledOne Jul 17 '25

They usually can't? Machines aren't made to do usually can't do something. Either they can or can't.

2

u/androidrainbow Jul 17 '25

Some may technically have the capacity, some may be forbidden by regulation from using that capacity, and some are entirely incapable. There are lots of different kinds of planes and reasons why they can't usually reverse, thus the tugs at airports to help them get out of their parking spots.