Tiger Moth joy flights - chocks for starting?

[fatboywings]

Hi Chairman,

there are two typical start routines with the tiger.
a cold start has the throttle closed and 8 blades forwards (some older school instructors altered this to 4 blades forwards before contact).
a hot start is throttle wide and 8 blades backwards.

With the throttle wide you obtain the correct air fuel mixture and avoid flooding. The hot start technique is also used to "blow out" excess fuel when the engine is flooded.

regards
ben

[Dixons Cider]

From where this Ppruner sat in his car there was no sign of any chocks in front of the wheels of the Tiger Moth

Are you for real!

Once upon a time cut my teeth in a Tiger on joyflight ops. Never a chock in sight, and pilot starting, alone. Are you gonna hammer me for that?

What we did have was a tail hook, a cockpit release, and mighty big stake in the dirt. That Tiger was never going to move, nor could it raise its tail should the throttle be set incorrectly.

Now if you were there at the time, you would tell me that because you coudn't see any chocks from the comfort of your car, I'm wrong? Cause if you did, I'd dispute it with gusto.

I was once upon a time hammered in print for my starting technique at an airshow, possibly also from someone safely ensconced within a car. Had that person taken the time to remove ones arse from ones car, and enquire as to what was going on, they may have discovered that the technique used was quite possibly safer that the time honoured technique of old.

My point is - all is not always what it seems.
And you play a risky game accusing others based on what you think you know.

[CHAIRMAN]

Thanks fatboy - What has concerned me is that most 'runaways' have been caused by a solo hand swinger forgetting to close the throttle after the 'blow' 'suck' routine. An open throttle at any time during start has to add another element of risk.

Anyway, couple of us now use for cold start (on tigers) - tickle, 8 back, 4 to 6 forward. Hot start (within about 10 minutes after shutting down) simply contact and swing. If hot start method unsuccessful then revert to cold start method.

All with throttle fully closed. An open throttle during any part of this semms to make no difference.

Have you or anyone else tried this? - and would your method work with the throttle closed?