hehe, It is a used MDS 40 engine that I bought from a friend. This is the first time I am trying to use it. My friend said that it worked fine for him. I would ask him to fix it but he lives very far away. The plugs are super something 2 cycle. I am using 15% fuel. The prop make is the basic 3 bladed prop. I don't know the pitch because I just clamped it onto the engine mount. Although it looks like it is pitching down slightly. By the way this is the first plane I have ever owned... if you couldn't tell. No it's no running backward. To get the engine running I give the needle valve two and a half turns, stick the glow stick on the plug and start it with the electric starter. it usually starts right up, although sometimes it takes a time or two before it starts.