Originally posted by SaviCatses
I'm new to this as well, with only five flights up till now. Every time I start my engine it runs backwards. I know immediately that it's running backwards because being in front of the plane, I can feel the prop's blast on me.
At first I was pretty amazed that the engine could actually run backwards (clockwise), especially since I flip the prop counter-clockwise with the chicken stick. My instructor never did stop the engine, he simply played with the throttle and managed to reverse (forward?) the engine into turning counter-clockwise once again. I learned the trick as well, just idle the throttle and then firewall it a few times (quickly). Works for me!
My engine is an OS .46FX
I have an 46FX running 15% nitro and it does that as well - starts backwards more often than not on a hand flip! I think the reason is that compression is so good that when it gets to the second pop it back-kicks and starts running that way.
Using an electic starter will get it going the right way every time though...
