Thursday, July 11, 2013

You Don't See That Every Day

I've always wanted to see this done.  The practice was somewhat common during WWII and to my knowledge nearly every plane had it spelled out somewhere as to how to do this.  The only other video I've ever see of this starting method was of a DC-3.  It was done with a boot over the end of the prop, as were most WWII aircraft, and the pull cord was elastic.  Yet, here is a great example of how to do it today.  Enjoy.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Rich, I've met up with you and Ginger in Morris IL. (C09) a couple of times, though many years have passed. Once had the honor of buying you both breakfast. I've known about this starting method for some years when I as volunteering on a P-51 restoration project. The owner had in the 60's bought what was left of the Nicuaragn Air Force, mostly P-51s. He employed a ferry pilot who around that time was hired by a guy in Europe to ferry a mustang from somewhere on the east coast to Europe. What the ferry pilot learned later was that the plane had once been a gate guardian, and when it was retrieved off the pole, the engine was locked up. They broke the engine free using the cuff and elastic rope you referred to. He made it accross the pond with no problems, but was not a happy camper when he learned how that engine was brought back to life. I see I missed a consonant - my apologies. Mike Halm (former Stearman owner -lost medical)

Bob Herren said...

Hi,

I fear this is a phony.
First how many ag planes have spinners?

Wouldn't a rope crush the metal spinner base?

When the pickup starts it sounds like a tractor?

When the pickup pulls the rope why doesn't the nose of the plane move towards the rope unless the engine has zero compression?

Finally when the engine starts doesn't it sound like a radial instead of an opposed engine?

Bob Herren