Hand propped a 7AC today

saddletramp

saddletramp

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Oct 15, 2015
Messages
748
Location
Walla Walla. WA
Display Name
saddletramp
Home Airfield
ALW
Not a big deal but I haven't hand propped a plane in years.

I love the little airport where I base my airplane. I was tinkering in my hangar when a nice original 7AC stopped by for some touch & goes. He was landing on the mowed grass next to our 4,500 ft paved runway. He stopped long enough to get fuel & walked over to my hangar to ask if I knew how to hand prop an airplane. I told him I did but it had been a while. He said it would save him from having to tie it down. Safe guy. It took me two pulls but away it went. It felt good to get grass roots.

A little while later an old 172 stopped in for fuel & he came over to my hangar since he notice I too had a straight tail. We had a great visit.

I enjoy the great people at small airports. It was a nice change from all the political ranting.
 
Let's see, it's been 54 years for me. I soloed in a Champ. First lesson was in how to prop the plane.

Decided after I soloed that I wanted a plane with a starter that wasn't me.
 
Hand-propped an Ercoupe a number of times. That was fun when no one else was around.

Small airports are great! Ours doesn't even have a fence. I like how people interested in aviation can just come up and chat with you. Of course it sucks when people drive onto the taxiway in front of your taxiing airplane. The risk is worth the freedom for me.
 
Joshuajayg said:
Hand-propped an Ercoupe a number of times. That was fun when no one else was around.

Small airports are great! Ours doesn't even have a fence. I like how people interested in aviation can just come up and chat with you. Of course it sucks when people drive onto the taxiway in front of your taxiing airplane. The risk is worth the freedom for me.
Click to expand...
I've propped a lot of airplanes... none of them were nose-draggers! Much more dangerous.
 
Lowflynjack said:
I've propped a lot of airplanes... none of them were nose-draggers! Much more dangerous.
Click to expand...

When I owned an FBO in the early 90's our 172 starter puked so we had to hand prop it for about a week. I wouldn't allow anyone but me to hand prop it.

You're absolutely right, a nose dragger isn't too fun. I hand propped a 182 once too. Master switch left on...
 
I hand prop my Cub a few times a week :-)
I never tie it down, heck you can stand behind the prop and almost hold your hand on the throttle.
 
I had a system for hand propping my Taylorcraft by myself: I'd turn the fuel on but mags off, turn it through a few times...then turn the mags on but shut the fuel OFF...it would sputter and cough just long enough to run back, hop in, and turn the fuel on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top