A powered nose aircraft wheel system (130) for an aircraft (12) includes landing gear (104) that extends from the aircraft (12). A wheel axel (136) is coupled to the landing gear (104). A wheel (134) is coupled to the wheel axel (136). A wheel motor (106) is coupled to the wheel axel (136) and the wheel (134). A controller (120) is coupled to the wheel motor (106) and rotates the wheel (134). A method of taxiing an aircraft (12) includes permitting the wheel (134) of the aircraft (12) to freely spin during the landing of the aircraft (12). Power is transferred from an auxiliary power unit (73) of the aircraft (12) to the wheel motor (106). The wheel (134) is rotated via the wheel motor (106). The aircraft (12) is steered and the speed of the wheel (134) is controlled via one or more controllers selected from an onboard controller (18, 118, 120) and an offboard controller (45, 58, 59).