Runaway Bi-plane
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 683
Likes: 0
From: UK
From the Mail On-Line ...
That should do a lot for Tiger Airways' reputation ...
JD
Chris Rollings, who owns four Stampe aircraft, told the Daily Mirror: 'It's not that unusual for these things to start racing around with their pilots galloping after them. But it's extremely unusual for them to take off without a pilot.'
JD

Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, England
Macey's Auster
Hi Roy Bouchier,
Yes, some Austers, especially some of the later models, had Lycomings.
All the early post war ones, such as the 1946 J1 Autocrats I flew, had either the Cirrus or the Gypsy Major.
Broomstick.
Yes, some Austers, especially some of the later models, had Lycomings.
All the early post war ones, such as the 1946 J1 Autocrats I flew, had either the Cirrus or the Gypsy Major.
Broomstick.

Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
A friend of mine who was present says he always turns the fuel off before handswinging. There's enough time to climb on board and turn the fuel on before it stops but insufficient to allow it to run for long.
Sounds like a sensible precaution.
Sounds like a sensible precaution.

Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 760
Likes: 34
From: Rural England, thank God.
Reminds me of the story my grandmother told me: in the late Twenties or early Thirties she was in the passenger seat of a small biplane (she had a relative who was one of the aviation pioneers, so it may have been him), and the pilot got out to swing the prop. He failed to clamber back in it as it moved off. It was stopped by the airfiled hedge, and she was so terrified by the experience, she never set foot in an aircraft of any size ever again!
Skua
Skua

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 18
From: South Oxfordshire
Had it cleared the trees it is believed the plane, which was headed towards nearby Chichester, West Sussex, could have flown for around 150 miles on a full tank of fuel.

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,581
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From: flyover country USA
My Taylorcraft was well adapted to handswinging from behind; I stood fwd of the right wing v-strut, with the right door wide open, and my left hand within inches of the throttle and mag switch.
But I kept the tail tied down anyway.
But I kept the tail tied down anyway.

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 5
From: Under the clag EGKA
I seem to recall that Mike Macey's Auster had a Lycoming.

Joined: Jan 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 38
Likes: 63
From: The Smaller Antipode
Took Aged Aunt in a Chipmunk away for the day. Leaving Sandown used up all the starter cartridges, mechanic said he had trolley-acc. and could come in about an hour. Getting dark, cracked throttle and briefed A.Aunt that when engine fired she had to pull the throttle firmly backwards. It worked, but I had visions of A.A. careering across the airfield.
Swung Turbulent - only way - throttle vibrated forward, chocks held but aircraft tipped. End of prop. OK at home, big chox, concrete block holding tailwheel down ( now ) - but difficult away, take some chox, start, place tailwheel chock with long string into flight deck, remove wheel chocks, climb aboard, hold brakes on ( but they have no parking brake facility) and pull tailwheel chock aboard. Good fun.
Swung Turbulent - only way - throttle vibrated forward, chocks held but aircraft tipped. End of prop. OK at home, big chox, concrete block holding tailwheel down ( now ) - but difficult away, take some chox, start, place tailwheel chock with long string into flight deck, remove wheel chocks, climb aboard, hold brakes on ( but they have no parking brake facility) and pull tailwheel chock aboard. Good fun.




