Hand swinging "normal" planes

[Say again s l o w l y]

Well if you aren't actually going to use the electrics, that's a different story!

But if you are going to use lights, radios, pitot heat or Nav equipment, then having a serviceable battery is a pretty good idea.

In a Tipsy Nipper, it's a different type of flying, you can't use what you don't have, but in anything with a bit more kit, then I want to make sure it's going to work and continue to do so before I go anywhere.

[Hairyplane]

No problem...

I hand swung Will Curtiss's Sukhoi when he ran out of air last season. It went second go.

I have also hand swung an Aztec with flat battery.

2 of my old planes are 'handraulic' start

As long as you are careful and know what you are doing....

HP

[Say again s l o w l y]

Will's a/c ran out of air? Surely he could have just talked at it?

Only joking...!

[Onan the Clumsy]

I had to prop a 172 once. I wasn't very keep on the idea, especially as it was Winter, but I had to do it before the airport police showed up. I made sure I kept the old girl tied down while I did it though.


Biggest I've seen done was a 182 and I thought that was fairly large.

[Pitts2112]

Something else to consider depending on how you got to the handpropping decision. If the aircraft has a standard heavyweight starter (only type I have experience with) which has already engaged the starter ring for some reason, you'll have the devil's own job trying to hand prop with that dragging on it. It can be done but it is absolutely knackering. Ask John Tempest. Probably 20 blades it took to start my Pitts and I think he needed to have a lie down afterward!

Pitts2112