A braking system for an aircraft, the braking system comprising: a fan cowl having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the fan cowl comprises: a first fan cowl movably coupled to an inboard side of an aircraft engine (110/112); and a second fan cowl movably coupled to an outboard side of the aircraft engine (110/112), each of the first and second fan cowls (222/224) movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the first and second fan cowls (222/224) being configured to rotate outwardly relative to the aircraft engine (110/112) into an airflow stream in the deployed position to increase drag and provide an air brake to reduce a speed of the aircraft during at least a portion of a landing event; a hinge assembly coupled between the leading edge and a fan cage of the aircraft engine (110/112) to enable the fan cowl to move between the stowed position and the deployed position wherein, the fan cowl has a first width when the fan cowl is in the stowed position and a second width when the fan cowl is in the deployed position, wherein the second width is greater than the first width; a kicker plate protruding from, and pivotally coupled relative to, the trailing edge of the fan cowl, wherein the kicker plate provides a third width of the fan cowl that is greater than the second width, wherein the first, second, and third widths are perpendicular relative to a centerline of the aircraft engine; an actuator system coupled to the leading edge of the fan cowl, the actuator system being configured to move the fan cowl via the hinge assembly from the stowed position to the deployed position in a direction away from the aircraft engine (110/112) and toward a fore end of the aircraft to provide the air brake during the landing event; and a variable pitch fan, the variable pitch fan operable to provide braking force for the aircraft during the landing event. a fan cowl having a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein the fan cowl comprises: a first fan cowl movably coupled to an inboard side of an aircraft engine (110/112); and a second fan cowl movably coupled to an outboard side of the aircraft engine (110/112), each of the first and second fan cowls (222/224) movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the first and second fan cowls (222/224) being configured to rotate outwardly relative to the aircraft engine (110/112) into an airflow stream in the deployed position to increase drag and provide an air brake to reduce a speed of the aircraft during at least a portion of a landing event; a first fan cowl movably coupled to an inboard side of an aircraft engine (110/112); and a second fan cowl movably coupled to an outboard side of the aircraft engine (110/112), each of the first and second fan cowls (222/224) movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, the first and second fan cowls (222/224) being configured to rotate outwardly relative to the aircraft engine (110/112) into an airflow stream in the deployed position to increase drag and provide an air brake to reduce a speed of the aircraft during at least a portion of a landing event; a hinge assembly coupled between the leading edge and a fan cage of the aircraft engine (110/112) to enable the fan cowl to move between the stowed position and the deployed position wherein, the fan cowl has a first width when the fan cowl is in the stowed position and a second width when the fan cowl is in the deployed position, wherein the second width is greater than the first width; a kicker plate protruding from, and pivotally coupled relative to, the trailing edge of the fan cowl, wherein the kicker plate provides a third width of the fan cowl that is greater than the second width, wherein the first, second, and third widths are perpendicular relative to a centerline of the aircraft engine; an actuator system coupled to the leading edge of the fan cowl, the actuator system being configured to move the fan cowl via the hinge assembly from the stowed position to the deployed position in a direction away from the aircraft engine (110/112) and toward a fore end of the aircraft to provide the air brake during the landing event; and a variable pitch fan, the variable pitch fan operable to provide braking force for the aircraft during the landing event.