There is only one problem with starting the engine on the runway - restraining the plane. It seems inconvenient to take the plane back to the pits, but its the right and safe thing to do. Starting an unrestrained plane seems pretty straight forward, but many people have been surprised when they bumped the throttle picking up the transmitter or some other reason, and the plane jumps forward.

Learning to hand start is a good thing, and it will tell you volumes about how well the engine is tuned. By all means become adept at hand starting, but restrain the plane when you're doing it.

As for procedures, there are many, and your particular engine and set up will dictate what works for you. My procedure for a cold start:

Throttle full open, glow igniter off, finger over carb, and flip the prop with the chicken stick several times. Look for fuel flow in the line, and feel the engine loosen up as the fuel reaches the cylinder.

Throttle closed. Make sure the engine is not in compression.

Grab the prop firmly in your fist, and install the glow igniter. Some people wear a leather glove to do this. Not a bad idea, but I don't do it. I do this in the event the engine kicks, it will not turn over and start.

Release the prop. Double check the plane restraint.

With the chicken stick, turn the prop backwards until you start to feel some pressure against the cylinder.

Now quickly flip the prop backward against the engine compression. Continue this until the engine fires. If it starts backward, kick the throttle to full. The engine may die, turnaround, or just sputter. Keep kicking the throttle until it turns around or dies.

If it runs backward and then dies, switch to flipping forward.

Warm starts just skip the priming step and only flip forward.

Brad