For some it's the stall, or steep turns. Or maybe the landing. Well, I've got my PPL, been aerobatted and everything else, ant there's never been anything I've worried about but yesterday I confronted something which has been nagging at me for some years, but which I knew I was going to have to tackle some day. Because I am interested in old aeroplanes. And you don't even get in to do it. I am talking about prop-swinging.
Yesterday I was at the Tiger Club when there were very few people there. I was there to help out - I don't feel ready to fly yet - and someone was needed to swing the Cub's prop. Nettle. Grasp.
Now I feel that if I had started swinging props years ago - I was shown how to do it by the fireman at Sunderland, in 1981 - I would never have built up a 'thing' about it. but I didn't, and I have. Chris Bellhouse gave me a great breifing a few months ago and we swung various 'dead' props in and out of the hangar, but all of a sudden I was needed to do the job.
I must say, I felt confident. I knew the routine, having been on the pilot's end so many times, and the Cub's prop is within easy reach and light. We primed, sucked in and went for it; but it was a cold day and she wouldn't fire. So we switched off, I swung through to clear the cylinders, then we tried again. All the time I had been pulling through I was rehearsing my movements, particularly being aware of the natural pull towards the blades. One pull- nothing. Another pull and she fired. Suddenly, the disc was right in front of me and that's when I had the shock of fear. Suppose I hadn't got my hand out of the way in time? Suppose I fell forward? Uugh. Anyway, I'd done it and I had to move on to the chocks.
So there it was....my first prop swing, and a totally unremarkable success...........
until the next time!! 