John J
Line Up and Wait
Last night I was going through my old note book that I started keeping when I first worked at the local airport. I began working their when I was 15. I began this note book at the time.
One of the many tasks besides fueling, washing moving planes and just answering to "Hey You" I had to learn Hand Propping planes. At 15 I was not allowed to do this until I was talk enough to see into the cockpit from the front or at least my height was such I could reach, without leaning forward, the propeller tip at the 10 O'Clock position. I was slow grower so I did not reach that point until just my before I turned 16. Plus the airport owner was worried I did not weigh enough. I was real skinny kid.
The time came finally just about my solo day and I had to have 2 hours of "duel instruction in propping. Interesting the first plane I started with was the T Craft for we all knew it had a run out engine.
Some of the procedures that I wrote down in my 16 year old writing are
1. Face Plane Directly.
2. Then go to the ride side to check to make sure person inside has feet on brakes hand on throttle in the closed position and Switch in the Off Position.
3. Brief person inside what you are going to call for and sequence.
4. Go Back to front of plane and look at it straight on.
5. Call for "Brakes ON' and wait for response.
6. Test for Brakes on by pushing on hub of Propeller.
7. Set the Prop at the 10 O' Clock Position and with lay both hands near tip without gripping blade. Set right leg back and bring left leg forward to position body so it is not leaning forward. Make sure rear is angled away toward the (your) right side. With one smooth movement push firmly down on blade while simultaneously moving left leg back and to the right. As hand come down toward bottom of the arc move smartly away and out side the propeller arc. This so Very Important to keep all body motions in one fluid flow that keeps legs, arms head and trunk away from prop in a quick move. Do this several times to load the engine.
8. Position the propeller to the 10 O.Clock position again.
9. Yell "Throttle Cracked, Brakes and Contact" Very Carefully push firmly on hub to check for brakes.
10. Repeat Step 7 and hope for the best.
If the engine does not start repeat all steps.
Interesting as I took my dual instruction to hand prop planes I found that was only the entry course for later when I began my cross country time I was given "Advanced Dual" in propping.
That is where on my dual cross countries my instructor would tell me that I had to find a person to sit and hold the brakes and controls while I propped it. The plane was chocked and the tail was tied. My instructor would watch from the side and grade me on how I found the person, prepped them, and set the plane up. All of his students had to pass this test before doing any solo Cross Countries.
These are some of my notes that I took down while working( having fun) at the little airport that wanted to share with you all.
Thanks for reading
John J
One of the many tasks besides fueling, washing moving planes and just answering to "Hey You" I had to learn Hand Propping planes. At 15 I was not allowed to do this until I was talk enough to see into the cockpit from the front or at least my height was such I could reach, without leaning forward, the propeller tip at the 10 O'Clock position. I was slow grower so I did not reach that point until just my before I turned 16. Plus the airport owner was worried I did not weigh enough. I was real skinny kid.
The time came finally just about my solo day and I had to have 2 hours of "duel instruction in propping. Interesting the first plane I started with was the T Craft for we all knew it had a run out engine.
Some of the procedures that I wrote down in my 16 year old writing are
1. Face Plane Directly.
2. Then go to the ride side to check to make sure person inside has feet on brakes hand on throttle in the closed position and Switch in the Off Position.
3. Brief person inside what you are going to call for and sequence.
4. Go Back to front of plane and look at it straight on.
5. Call for "Brakes ON' and wait for response.
6. Test for Brakes on by pushing on hub of Propeller.
7. Set the Prop at the 10 O' Clock Position and with lay both hands near tip without gripping blade. Set right leg back and bring left leg forward to position body so it is not leaning forward. Make sure rear is angled away toward the (your) right side. With one smooth movement push firmly down on blade while simultaneously moving left leg back and to the right. As hand come down toward bottom of the arc move smartly away and out side the propeller arc. This so Very Important to keep all body motions in one fluid flow that keeps legs, arms head and trunk away from prop in a quick move. Do this several times to load the engine.
8. Position the propeller to the 10 O.Clock position again.
9. Yell "Throttle Cracked, Brakes and Contact" Very Carefully push firmly on hub to check for brakes.
10. Repeat Step 7 and hope for the best.
If the engine does not start repeat all steps. Interesting as I took my dual instruction to hand prop planes I found that was only the entry course for later when I began my cross country time I was given "Advanced Dual" in propping.
That is where on my dual cross countries my instructor would tell me that I had to find a person to sit and hold the brakes and controls while I propped it. The plane was chocked and the tail was tied. My instructor would watch from the side and grade me on how I found the person, prepped them, and set the plane up. All of his students had to pass this test before doing any solo Cross Countries.
These are some of my notes that I took down while working( having fun) at the little airport that wanted to share with you all.
Thanks for reading
John J
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