FAA Aviation Mechanic Powerplant (AMP)Turbine EnginesMedium
A technician inspects a turbofan engine's thrust reverser system. During deployment, blocker doors close off the bypass duct and fan discharge air is redirected forward through a series of fixed vanes to produce reverse thrust. These vanes are called
- AInlet guide vanes
- BNozzle guide vanes
- CCascade vanes
- DVariable stator vanes
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. Cascade vanes
Cascade-type thrust reversers, common on turbofan engines, use blocker doors to redirect fan bypass air through fixed cascade vanes in the fan cowl, turning the airflow forward to oppose the aircraft's motion and produce reverse thrust.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Inlet guide vanes direct air into the first compressor stage, unrelated to reverse thrust.
- B. Nozzle guide vanes direct gas flow onto turbine blades in the hot section, not reverse thrust.
- D. Variable stator vanes are compressor components used to prevent stall, unrelated to thrust reversing.
Cascade-Type Thrust Reverser
A turbofan thrust reverser that blocks bypass duct airflow with doors and redirects it forward through fixed cascade vanes to produce reverse thrust.
- Common on high-bypass turbofan engines
- Blocker doors close off normal duct flow path
- Distinct from clamshell/target reversers used on turbojets
Memory trick: 'Cascade' sounds like a waterfall — air cascades forward through the vanes.