My Fear of Hand Propping debunked + Reward of Flying in a 90 year old Airplane!

Hand Propping - RESPECT required to not get hurt or killed!

HUGE thanks to Jerad and Nick from Hangar 180,
and the team at TacAero for making this episode possible!

Hangar 180:

@Hangar180 on Facebook and @Hangar.180 on Instagram

TacAero:


And again PLEASE do not consider this training.
It is meant for entertainment / the start to a conversation you can finish with your instructor.

UPDATE:
For those asking what the tragic event was, see link below and please go show some love / support for WAAAM:
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Huge thanks to all the Supporters on Patreon! Productions like this wouldn't be possible without your help!
(in this case quite literally a you guys convinced me to let this final version run long after reviewing the rough cut)
For those that haven't seen it, please check the Flight Chops Patreon page to find out how you can be a part of it

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FLIGHT CHOPS DISCLAIMER:
I am a "weekend warrior" private pilot, I fly for fun with no intentions of going commercial. I have had my PPL for over 15 years, but still consider each flight a learning experience - I generally take detailed notes after each flight to remind myself what went well or what I could do to improve.... Having the GoPro cameras to record flights like this is invaluable. I find these self analysis videos very helpful in my constant quest to improve, and am happy to share. Feedback is invited; however, please keep it positive.

[darrylday]

I've been hand propping for years and this is the first time I've heard the recommendation to turn the fuel off when starting alone. What a great idea! I don't know why I didn't think of it myself but I'll be adding this to my lesson plans for both flight students and maintenance training.

[LancairLC]

One tip I use every time I am in the aircraft while someone is hand propping. I always use the term "Mags INDICATE Off" This reminds the person at the front of the plane that you never know if the mag failed since the last time the plane flew and is permanently hot.

[JohnsonAviation]

Just passed my private pilot check ride and get to watch a brand new video by flightchops, could this day get any better?! 🙂

[Austin-elom]

"Always act like the mags are on"


stands there leaning on propeller before he makes sure mags are indeed off.

[JimForeman]

The first entry in my brand new log book was on July 6, 1944; 30 minutes, How to hand crank an airplane. The next line was Familiarization Flight, 30 minutes, Pipeer J3, NC9887. It was six months after my first solo on my 16th birthday that I even got a ride in an airplane with an electric starter. The biggest engine I ever hand-propped was an R-1340 on an AT-6.

[GR-rxzq]

I don't think he landed that 1929 plane. At least I couldn't tell if he did because it was so smooth

[SouthernRwyFan]

I gotta give you “props” Steve, this was very informing! ;)

[wesleytownsend]

I have not saved a creator’s content if a long time but this was one for the personal playlist. (Mostly just to share with my eldest son as he appreciates this nostalgia as much as his old man).
It takes a real man; to share with their peers (followers in this case but to me, that hold even more meaning) his insecurities and his journey toward learning a new skill. I am an electrical engineer and it is forever humbling to share (with my students and at times peers) my first clumsy attempts at tracing a custom PCB, constructing a schematic, or any other skill from soldering to calculating diodes, that I now use constantly. BUT this is an excellent teaching tool because it show your ability to be on the same level and wavelength as others; whether that be student, peer, alumni, or just those with curiosities toward your passions.
I wish you success in your future endeavors and all the best to you and yours!

[darrylday]

Very good point! The fuel valve position would have to be added to the check list before using the procedure, preferably in more than one place. Perhaps the run-up list and the pre take off list. I'll add that to my lesson plans too. Thanks.

[brianhunt]

Another great video. I flew an L4 Cub (the one at the start of the video for those that didn’t recognise it) for several years and always started it from behind, usually on first swing. The basic L4 has lousy brakes and I would ALWAYS use chocks.

[VicariousAir]

I'm not sure why, but I enjoyed this video more than others... just seemed very relaxed.. big thumbs up!

[DaedricFaZe]

I work at an FBO with mostly business aviation with a hand full of GA. One day there was this guy hand propping a C172 for about an hour. You could tell fatigue was setting in with his technique and posture. He was with his wife who unfortunately probably had no idea how to fly or at least the bare minimum understanding of the brakes and throttle. So a pilot who has a C210 on the west side of the field saw him and offered some help. He eventually left i believe to get jumper cables. In the meantime this pilot started it up, the worst way possible. At least having the common sense to chock both fronts so it didn't taxi into a F7x, when it started, the throttle was full, or atleast near full, definitely not cracked or idle. He runs around pulls power, un-chocks his aircraft and then hops back in. The C210 pilot came back and was glad he was gone and said that he was bound for something bad to happen.

[Tracomaster]

Some people like the sound of old cars, I like the sound of old airplanes.

I found this an interesting edit Steve! With that music you gave it an incredibly calm vibe and it felt different from your usual stuff. Really enjoyable!

[chanute]

Hello FlightChops,
I have watched your videos since the beginning of the year, and I enjoy every single one! I think they are highly entertaining and extremely educational, and I think that they have drastically improved my flying. I am training for my PPL out of Charloi, in Belgium, and I did my first solo yesterday. When I was doing my solo, I noticed I kept coming back to your videos when I was reacting to various things. I was making my taxi behind a Pilatus, and I thought to keep out of the prop blast after watching the DC3 video. I also thought about all of your controlled flight vlogs during my solo, and how I should not be afraid of ATC. I thought my instructor wanted me to to one touch on the solo, so I asked tower about it when they mentioned a full stop on my downwind call. Your videos and videos by other creators helped me to overcome my fear of ATC to the point where I don't have any fear or anxiety when I call them anymore, and it has helped me tremendously with my flying. I also think your video about loss of control has also made me more conscious about loss of control, and now I am conscious of every distraction when I fly. I am also much more careful about banked turns in the pattern and letting the aircraft build speed on go-arounds. I also plan on finding the minimum safe speed for the PA-38 so that it gives me an extra margin of safety. On a more minor note, I also got out of the habit of jaming the throttle to the firewall on a touch and go or simulated emergency after watching your video on ME training.


Overall, I just wanted to express my gratitude to you and other creators such as the AOPA for helping me with my flying and providing hours of fascinating content for me to watch and learn from. Keep up the great work!

[spanieaj]

My Dad fractured a finger when a prop kicked back on him. He never had the fracture set so his finger fused with a bend in it. So every time I see someone hand propping, I think of my late Father and his bent finger. :)

[PanzerDave]

Great video and it is a nice change from the Cessnas, Pipers, and other general aviation aircraft one usually sees. I also liked how you edited the film to bounce between the ground portions and the flying.

[thedilettantegamer]

I just got to fly that L4 last week, it was my first tail wheel and war bird. It was such a docile plane. I was shocked how natural it felt to jump in a tail wheel. I'm sad I missed this event, hood river is where I went to meet up with my old CFI and jump in a tail wheel.

[craigsawyer]

I only knew hand propping, I started in a 1946 Taylorcraft. What seems wired to me is tuning a key after yelling "Contact". It all gets easier with time. Happy landings and tail winds to you.

[PacificAirwave]

The Western Aviation and Automobile Museum in Hood River, OR is a gotta-see but it'll challenge most folks legs! Even after 6-8 hours there's more to read and see. A spectacular place!!

[SmittySmithsonite]

Great vid, Steve! Love the old stuff, no matter what it is, land, air, or sea. I've always wondered what steps needed to be taken to avoid getting hurt or killed hand-propping.

One of my customers stopped by today with a chainsaw he needed running. He saw my paramotor and we started chatting about aviation. He told me of a guy at an airport he was at that hand-propped an aircraft, bent his knees, and guess where the blades went? OUCH. 😨 Showed me a picture about 50 years old of him in front of his 1940's Luscombe. What a beautiful aircraft - had the wheel fairing, and nice shiny paint. He's 89 years old, and could run circles around me at almost half his age. Was great seeing his face light up when he talked about all the trips he made in it. Made my day!! 😎