On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 01:06:54 GMT, David CL Francis
wrote:

When I had lessons many years ago, it always amazed me (it also made me
very careful) that my instructor, from day 1, put his life in my hands
by putting me at the controls while he hand propped the engine

This is still routine, and it still amazes me.

Personally, if someone asks me for a prop, I do the job from behind,
just as I do when I'm starting the plane away from my home field.

That way, I might get run over, but that's survivable.

We did have one instructor for a year or two who didn't untie the tail
until she had the engine running. Again, the worst that could have
happened is that the student taxied off without her.

Worse yet, everyone seems to use different language for the calls,
which are made by the propper. I like BRAKES--CRACKED--HOT, because
it's what my first instructor said, and it does sound urgent. The old
timers say BRAKES--CRACKED--CONTACT. And I also hear BRAKES ON AND ON.

Whenever my granddaughter sees someone trying to start a lawnmower or
such, she cries BRAKES--CRACKED--HOT!


-- all the best, Dan Ford

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