RE: reversing an engine
I had a bobcat 50 pusher with a rossi .81 ducted fan motor that I reversed. It was a rear intake engine so I had to turn the backplate 90 degrees instead of the front. It ran fine backwards. Open exhaust and tapped the case for a perry pump to keep the fuel flowing. apc 9x10 or 10x10 on 30% nitro. I don't know what it tach'd but it was almost scary. It flew fairly fast too, it was a fun plane.