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[E-handle]

I'm hand propin' myself right now!

 

[trip]

Leave the mags off and after about 30mins he will have had his fill.

 

[mrnolmts]

Leave the mags off and after about 30mins he will have had his fill.

Unless there's a short Not exactly unheard of...

 

[JimNtexas]

I learned to fly in Cubs, Taylorcraft, and Champs in 1969. I started hand-proping those on my first lesson.

Even after all these years I wouldn't have a problem hand proping one of those old tail-draggers, but I'd be scared if I had to hand start a larger engine.

 

[FL420]

Anyone who flies props and doesn't know how to hand prop it is like a driver who doesn't know how to change a tire. Sooner or later, you're going to find yourself having to depend on the kindness of strangers to go flying.

Low compression engines are easier and safer than high compression engines. British engines turn the opposite direction from American engines. You should always try to tie down the tail, even if you trust the guy in the cockpit knows what he is doing.

Because I'm a Sluff, I had to stand on a box once to prop a Staggerwing. It worked but I can't recommend it. Propped the rear engine on a C-337 Skymaster once. Took a minute to figure out which direction it rotated. I guess the Adam 500 will be similar.

 

[Lead Sled]

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.

I've owned a couple of Aeronca 7AC Champs and a Luscombe that didn't have electrical systems (read: No Starters). It's not a big deal, but if you want to be safe you do have to do it correctly and take a few precautions to keep the thing from flying off. Don't laugh, it actually happens occassionally when some ace forgets to tie down the tail. I think the most recent example was a Champ that flew "solo" in the mid-west [Ohio as I remember] for several miles. This isn't the place to tell people how to do it - sure enough, someone would give it a try and get hurt (or worse).

'Sled