Engine starting
There is a thread 'Why are aircraft engines so thirsty?'.
So I thought, 'why are aircraft engines so difficult to start?' OK, so they are not, on the whole, fitted with the most sophisticated electronic ignition systems; in fact most are fitted with twin magnetos. But at any airfield in the early morning, especially in winter, one hears the churn churn of an engine waiting to fire up.
Why is this? Surely twin mags + twin plugs should ensure that the engine starts like a car, ie instantly. After all, a car, even an older car with a carb and choke starts just about instantly (unless the battery is weak).
So why do we sit there with no much happening?