A jet is a lot easier you just press a button loads of great sounds and it does it all for you
Loads of great sounds? From a Jet??? Come on now, impressive they might be, but no Jet or Turbofan will ever sound remotely as good as a big piston engine at full whack. And older jets didn't have the luxury of FADEC, so there's a bit more than just pushing a button and letting it do it all for you.
As to the original question, I'm sure I've seen film of a Gloster Gladiator or similar being "Hand Swung" at Old Warden by several guys forming a human chain - one poor sod had to hold the prop blade with one arm whilst the others were trying to pull him apart with his other arm!