I recall watching the rope method on a big radial
Abu Dhabi's nice new airport, 1971 or so, scheduled DC3 service to Bahrain due to depart. Passengers waiting in the departure lounge, with a glass wall overlooking the apron and their aircraft 30m away. They are watching activities with keen interest.
The problem is that the left engine starter motor is, to be technical, f****d. We don't have a spare on station. Station Engineer, old school with a wealth of experience, has exhausted his entire repertoire of alternative fixes.
Except one. "OK, get the Landrover, and the ladder and length of rope in the store". I return with these, wondering WTH. He sets the ladder up to the front of the motor, and winds the rope clockwise 6 or 7 turns round the hub (or is it the boss?), which is shaped like a erect nipple for just this purpose. Then he comes down and manoeuvres the landrover so that it's at right angles to the hub, and ties the rope to the back of it. He tells the pilot to be ready, all switches on etc, to catch it if/when it fires. He tells me to drive the LR forward at a very brisk walking pace when he says "NOW" and keep going until the rope is clear. I get in, start up, he checks all clear and shouts "NOW".
OK, it took 3 practices to get it just right. But then we got the motor started and idling nicely. I walk towards the departure lounge door to collect the passengers, and see a line of faces up against the glass wall, with expressions ranging from disbelief to sheer terror. I go in and announce that the service is ready to go, sorry about the running engine while you are boarding, enjoy your flight and come again, please have your boarding cards ready. And out we all go; I have never seen before or since, a group of passengers so unenthusiastic about flying.
You can't do that with one of these jet contraptions.