Variable pitch prop "endorsement"?

[megan]

There was something quite satisfying in getting a big radial running, count the requisite number of blades, mags on, hit the prime hoping you didn't flood it, get in running on prime while hoping a backfire didn't blow exhaust or intake tubes off or create a fire, mixture from idle cut off to rich, cease prime when engine stumbles from over rich mixture, all accompanied by smoke and a sound no orchestra could better.

[Pilot DAR]

Yes, the ceremony of getting a piston engine running can be very satisfying. When you're drifting away from the dock in a wind, and you're going to get one chance to get it running before you drift into the trees on the other shore behind you, it can be more stressful than satisfying. This was a major factor in the decision to modify a Cessna 185 to be carburetted, rather than fuel injected - easy starts!

[Piper.Classique]

Flying a Yak 12 with a round engine in Poland was fun. A bit like a super cub on steroids, but the pilot was never allowed to do a cold start. The aircraft was pushed out of the hangar, pre flighted by one of the mechanics, started, engine checks done. Then one was allowed to remove it from their tender care. On return post flight checks done, fuel as required, cleaned, and pushed back into the hangar. I used to take a couple of cases of Calvados with me from France, and leave a bottle on board after each flight. Strangely enough, there was always an aeroplane available when I wanted to fly, and my normal sized cub got put to bed in the hangar.
Oh, yes, Constant speed prop. Took nearly five minutes to show me what to do. In Polish. Instrument marking in Russian. Never did get any theory told me, but apparently I was considered able to tow gliders with it. Pointy finger, stabbing at the instrument face, lots of this, then this, seemed to work.

[India Four Two]

Lovely story PC.

[clareprop]

I ferried a French aircraft the other day (a TB10).

Lovely aircraft - I used to own one. I agree the layout of controls appear somewhat haphazard. The late, great Bunny Bramson reviewed the aircraft in his book, 'The Book of Flight Tests'. Whilst praising the overall French style of the aircraft, he found the symbols on the annunciator panel incomprehensible and described them as 'appearing to be similar to Chinese flute music'.