Bad aimanship, stupidity or both??

Ewan H

I have no problem at all with people hand swinging from behind but it is very foolish to hand swing from the front, private strip or not, without the a/c being chocked and preferably someone in the cockpit. In the original post on this thread both the pilot and the marshal were at fault and in my opinion the pilot should either have stayed in the a/c or stopped the engine – he was clear of the strip – the latter possibly getting some response from the marshal or someone. To exit the a/c with the engine still running and then pointing it directly at and then walking it to within a few feet of the public crowd was asking for criticism. I am well aware of the problems that can be and are experienced with tail skid aircraft but these problems are no excuse for dangerous and risky practices, especially when the public could become involved. 🙁

brings back happy thoughts….ohhhh, the old Lutons. I logged over 400 hours in JG and EA

You’d probably have covered over 40 miles in good conditions then (i.e. with the wind behind you) 😀

First view – Wrong thread.

But it’s a popular machine by all accounts. I think Janie was implying lack of speed, but I’m not sure…

At the risk of being shot down in flames by those who always know better, I just wondered how many of you passing sentance on this pilot have ever had to operate a vintage aeroplane single handed? I regularly swung my Cub single handed at my strip, always from behind the prop. It was the safest way singled handed.

IMHO, the only person at fault here is the marshaller who just stood and watched…..

I also used to fly an Auster 5 at WW. Now that wasn’t a happy memory! Dreadful aeroplane. I’m sure the other marks of Auster must have been much better. Richard Newns flew it once with me in the back and he never went near it again!

brings back happy thoughts….ohhhh, the old Lutons. I logged over 400 hours in JG and EA

I think we should start a Support Group for Luton-ites, and arrange merchandising of appropriate items. 1. Orthopedic chairs
2. Cut price ear-plugs
3. Robust, easy-clean underwear
4, Strong Liquour

Must be about time to spend another hour in geo-stationary orbit……

I too am a former owner of BBEA and BDJG. We almost need our own forum on here!

Skycruiser,

Yeah, me too. Good old BBEA, before it went into Paul Kirkham’s custody. It is down at Kemble now. Richard Nearns and self delivered it about a year ago, but I do not know how active it is.

I bet there are not many Lutons in Hong Kong. Check out the WLAC webcam, and you’ll sometimes see your old mount cluttering up the landscape!

Good for you EwenT.
Just wish that sometimes pilots would ask for help especially on start-up. We usually go out to a Tiger or the like and ask if they need help – some do some don’t but it always seems to be appreciated.
We got praised for our professionalism by an Emirates captain at the weekend (we were at Turweston for British GP). This plus the appreciation of parking an Aeronca into wind rather than in line made for the feeling of a job well done.
Pilots don’t believe us when we say we do it all for free and just the fun of it!
OAW

Propstrike.

Did it cross nobody’s mind to go and help the guy??

It certainly crossed my mind but then I was expecting a marshal(s)?? to go out to him but they just stood there looking gormless. By the time I had plucked up courage to jump the barrier it was too late.

Armwaver.

The event was outside of your normal area of operations and mine. 😉 but I have offerred my services for next year.

As an arm waver with the VAC (and occaisionally the Moth Club) and one who runs a team of marshallers… we walk aircraft when required and we do occaisionally swing a prop when required… often crews at our events carry either chocks or a passenger do swing so we don’t do it too often but I have seen a number of pilots swing their own aircraft from behind the prop… A very unnerving thing to watch no matter how “experienced” the pilot… I’ve seen an Auster make a 270 degree trun just to get off a runway. Needless to say we then walked him in.
OAW

Did it cross nobody’s mind to go and help the guy?? I used to fly a Luton Minor, and in some situations it simply would not turn against the wind, though if there was room you could turn 270 degrees and exit on the heading you wanted. Watch how happy everyone is when you shut down and block the taxiway.

Numerous brakeless, tailskid machine are a handful in tight areas, and pilots will usually be most grateful for a competent wing-walker. Prop swingers who know what they doing are welcome as well.

Propstirke,

I used to fly two lutons about 4 years ago from Waltham….what about yourself.

Sounds very dodgy to me Ewan. I have seen a Piper Cub started without chocks, interesting method, swung single handed (from behind), with one hand on the throttle.
Only saw this once however.

Good point made by Propstrike, and the reason I only saw this happen once. Learning to swing a prop safely, and walking the odd wing earnt me a fair amount of free airtime as a 14 year old back then.

Just out of interest, how many of you out there would actually call the CAA over a matter like this, maybe file a PIREP?
I don’t see why any of the Marshalls shouldn’t be be trained to swing a prop, or walk a wing either.

Did it cross nobody’s mind to go and help the guy?? I used to fly a Luton Minor, and in some situations it simply would not turn against the wind, though if there was room you could turn 270 degrees and exit on the heading you wanted. Watch how happy everyone is when you shut down and block the taxiway.

Numerous brakeless, tailskid machine are a handful in tight areas, and pilots will usually be most grateful for a competent wing-walker. Prop swingers who know what they doing are welcome as well.

Do you have the registration, Im sure the CAA would want to know about something like this. The pilot is a pra*, what more can I say?

For once young Ruprecht, you’re right. Congratulations. Award yourself a gold star. And wear it on your McDonalds badge with pride as you serve your next happy meal.

Erm, does anyone else smell the whiff of hypocracy in Ruprecht’s comment above…? 😉

As an outsider/wannabe it doesn’e strike me as being a very robust way of operating, especially as the AAIB and CAA are showing a lot of interest in accidents caused by runaway aircraft and hand swinging of props.

It’s a case of familiarity breeding contempt – if you’re lucky you’ll get a scare with no-one hurt. A bit like a certain person not a million miles from this keyboard who thought that he’d lost his left index finger yesterday after taking liberties with a power planer (and was most surprised to see it still there with no blood!).

John C
shaken

Sounds a bit like somebody used to operating from a deserted strip and failing to engage his brain re the differences operating at a busy fly-in.

Moggy