A tape appliance that includes two read heads and two write heads arranged along a magnetic tape path. The heads are configured such that for a first longitudinal direction of tape travel along the tape path, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of a first one of the write heads followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of a first one of the read heads and flies over the tape bearing surfaces of the other write head and the other read head. For the reverse longitudinal direction of tape travel along the tape path, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of the other write head followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of the other read head and flies over the tape bearing surfaces of the first write head and the first read head.