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I was kicking around in my hangar in NC one day about 3 years ago. Most times I have the airport to myself, but that day the fellow in the next hangar came over and introduced himself. He had a nice looking Taylorcraft that he was planning on washing. However, he needed to pump up the tires and asked if he could borrow my air compressor.
After returning my compressor, he pulled his T-Craft out of the hangar and came over holding a set of chocks. He asked if I would be kind enough to hold onto the tail while he hand propped it.
No problem. I’m always willing to lend a hand.
When I got to his plane, I initially just grabbed the tail, however I saw the nice handle on the fuselage and decided to take a better grip. I leaned my butt on the right side of the tail and grabbed the hand hold while he got things set up. He warned that he was going to start it, and then swung the prop.
It's a good thing I was there because the next thing I know, the engine is roaring at what sounds like full power. I’m sure it wasn’t,but it was definitely running much higher than idle. Despite putting my full weight into the tail and holding on for dear life, this airplane was moving. My sneakers were skipping across the concrete and the plane started to turn left towards the next set of hangars. It was looking ugly, and the guy was nowhere to be seen.
I quickly made a plan that I would just let this thing go in a circle while I skipped across the ramp hoping it didn't go anywhere else. I was also hoping that I could maybe get the right wing on the side of the hangar so I could let go of the tail and cut the engine.
After about an hour of this, which was probably more like 5 seconds, the owner came around from the front the plane and put his weight into the strut on the left side. The plane finally stopped moving after about 45 degrees of turn. With the plane under control, he finally reached in and pulled the throttle back to idle.
After everything settled down, I noticed the chocks were nowhere to be found. WTF!! He thanked me profusely for saving his plane, then hopped in so he could taxi over to the wash rack.
About an hour later, I heard some noise coming from his hangar. He pulled that thing all the way back, rather than risk starting it again.
Fast forward about two years. I bought the fool thing!! Got my tail wheel sign off a few months later.
Finally got time and weather synchronized last month and it’s now at my new house in Arkansas after flying 7.9 hours and two fuel stops.
I’ve had two issues with it since I bought it. 1st was the wing tank not draining. The previous owner said he never used it, so I thought the line may have been clogged up from non-use. Turns out the fuel cap was put on backwards so the fuel was venting out, not draining (thanks for the heads up VanDy!!).
The second issue was a loose tail wheel spring. I was wondering why it was so hard to taxi straight. I got it tightened up with new leather and it’s great now.
I’ve only got about 19 hours in it, but I hope to be able to fly it a bit more this summer now that I’m finally settled in at the new digs.
Sorry for the lousy quality picture, but here it is in my hangar.
After returning my compressor, he pulled his T-Craft out of the hangar and came over holding a set of chocks. He asked if I would be kind enough to hold onto the tail while he hand propped it.
No problem. I’m always willing to lend a hand.
When I got to his plane, I initially just grabbed the tail, however I saw the nice handle on the fuselage and decided to take a better grip. I leaned my butt on the right side of the tail and grabbed the hand hold while he got things set up. He warned that he was going to start it, and then swung the prop.
It's a good thing I was there because the next thing I know, the engine is roaring at what sounds like full power. I’m sure it wasn’t,but it was definitely running much higher than idle. Despite putting my full weight into the tail and holding on for dear life, this airplane was moving. My sneakers were skipping across the concrete and the plane started to turn left towards the next set of hangars. It was looking ugly, and the guy was nowhere to be seen.
I quickly made a plan that I would just let this thing go in a circle while I skipped across the ramp hoping it didn't go anywhere else. I was also hoping that I could maybe get the right wing on the side of the hangar so I could let go of the tail and cut the engine.
After about an hour of this, which was probably more like 5 seconds, the owner came around from the front the plane and put his weight into the strut on the left side. The plane finally stopped moving after about 45 degrees of turn. With the plane under control, he finally reached in and pulled the throttle back to idle.
After everything settled down, I noticed the chocks were nowhere to be found. WTF!! He thanked me profusely for saving his plane, then hopped in so he could taxi over to the wash rack.
About an hour later, I heard some noise coming from his hangar. He pulled that thing all the way back, rather than risk starting it again.
Fast forward about two years. I bought the fool thing!! Got my tail wheel sign off a few months later.
Finally got time and weather synchronized last month and it’s now at my new house in Arkansas after flying 7.9 hours and two fuel stops.
I’ve had two issues with it since I bought it. 1st was the wing tank not draining. The previous owner said he never used it, so I thought the line may have been clogged up from non-use. Turns out the fuel cap was put on backwards so the fuel was venting out, not draining (thanks for the heads up VanDy!!).
The second issue was a loose tail wheel spring. I was wondering why it was so hard to taxi straight. I got it tightened up with new leather and it’s great now.
I’ve only got about 19 hours in it, but I hope to be able to fly it a bit more this summer now that I’m finally settled in at the new digs.
Sorry for the lousy quality picture, but here it is in my hangar.
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