Airplanes deploy revers thrusters when landing which are basically just shaped metal shields that move into place behind the engines to provide reverse thrust and slow the plane.

But adding a fan on a sailboat is seen as stupid and doesn't work.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [S] 0 points 1 week ago (1 child)

How is the sail in this pic any different?

It is redirecting the flow of air from the fan

  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
  • [–] 2 points 1 week ago

    The reverse thrusters redirect the air coming out in the opposite direction, so it is like turning the fan in the opposite direction.

    A sail catches the air to pull the boat along and some of it bleeds off, but it does not direct any air backwards to propel the ship forward.

  • source
  • parent