Check out this email.

[aviator1978]

I was wondering if any of you have ever got a request like this. It arrived at the flight school I work at about 3 days ago. Scary thing is, I think the guy is for real. He left his phone number. Too scared to call.

To Whom it may Concern:

I am interested in manually starting an airplane propeller, similar to those in the early 1950’s etc. However, I have yet to find a place that allows civilians to physically start the engine. I am writing in hopes of finding someone with an idea of were I might live out my dream. If you have ANY leads or ideas, please feel free to forward them to me.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[RichardRambone]

Must've been a no bonus holiday for this guy.

 

[FN FAL]

Maybe that's just this guys way of asking you out on a date? You never know.

In unrelated subject; A few years ago I was stranded at an airport with a weak battery and the airport manager attempted to hand prop this thing several times. We darned near got it started too. He was trying to hand prop a two bladed Continental TSIO-470.

 

[FlyingSkip]

Hand Propping

I teach banner tow pilots every Spring in Myrtle Beach, SC and every start is a hand prop---the electrical systems have been stripped out, there are no batteries and no starters. There is an acceptable technique, and it's not hard or dangerous if done correctly---those are 320s in SUper Cubs.

I've also been asked by ground crew on at least 2 occasions to hand prop aircraft that had bad starters, etc and were passing through with no idea how to keep going otherwise. I'd LOUDLY instruct the pilot inside what I wanted him to do each step of the way getting ready, and then after one or two spins the airplane would start. 172 and a Mooney, if I remember correctly.

 

[check6]

If you're scared, tell the guy that it is against your company's SOPs as well.

 

[mrnolmts]

Now, it's been a few years since I went through this (early to mid-80's), but I distinctly remember hand starting airplanes a couple of times as part of my training.

 

[cheyflyer]

Hand proped a Taylorcraft just today. Tell him to search out someplace that does training in the older aircraft with no electrical systems. He will get all the dream fulfilling he can stand.

If you are anywhere near Central Ohio send him Stewart Field in Waynesville, OH. Plenty of hand propping going on there.

 

[AgDownUnder]

I was wondering if any of you have ever got a request like this. It arrived at the flight school I work at about 3 days ago. Scary thing is, I think the guy is for real. He left his phone number. Too scared to call.

To Whom it may Concern:

I am interested in manually starting an airplane propeller, similar to those in the early 1950’s etc. However, I have yet to find a place that allows civilians to physically start the engine. I am writing in hopes of finding someone with an idea of were I might live out my dream. If you have ANY leads or ideas, please feel free to forward them to me.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Why scared? Teach the guy how to prop a plane, ain't that tough really. I've picked up some pretty good tips over the years propping people who forgot and left their Master on. Just make sure you know what you're doing.

 

[gfvalvo]

---the electrical systems have been stripped out...

Why? What's the benefit of doing this in a banner towing operation?

 

[AgDownUnder]

Why? What's the benefit of doing this in a banner towing operation?

They are highly modified for weight and CG purposes. There's even a couple out there with O-540s, 6 hrs of fuel and 5 tow hooks

 

[Sctt@NJA]

Knowing what you are doing is a good thing. The first thing I would recommend is not even messing with tricycle gear airplanes with metal propellers. The angle is all wrong. You can't trust anybody to have mags or throttles set correctly and the whole thing is an accident waiting to happen.

This opinion brought to you from a guy who hand props a Champ for every flight. I tie down the tail with rope, set the controls myself, and when you hand prop an airplane that is designed to be hand propped... It is worlds easier, safer, less awkward than the cluster which is every other hand prop I have ever witnessed.

 

[Dubya]

I hand propped a Kappa Kappa Gamma the other night...she started right up. I can't remember exactly the size of her engine...maybe O-341934.

(throaty growl)



W

 

[cargoflyr69]

I second what sctt@nja just said about hand proping tri-cycle gear aircraft. NEVER, NEVER, NEVER do it. find a battery charger and a hotel room and come back in the morning. The follow thru angle after throwing the prop leaves you hunched over, head low, looking at the spinner and off balance. Immagine sticking your head into a rotating gillotine! Any tailwheel a/c with a lower compression engine can be proped safely from the front. My fav. is proping the J-3 cub from behind with your right hand and reaching in the cockpit to run the throttle/mags with your left. Good luck and be safe!

 

[EagleRJ]

I asked one of my FOs to prop the Saab 340 once when the batteries were dead. He came back in several minutes later panting like he'd just run a marathon. I reminded him that since it was a free-turbine design, he'd really have to put some muscle into it! He never got it going fast enough for me to introduce fuel. Cupcake.....

 

[88_MALIBU]

Now that got me to laugh...