wild,
*LOL* that was a good story, sounds like the guy wasn't seriously hurt.

I always use my electric starter, and I bring it to the field to start beginner's engines as necessary as well (even if I don't bring airplane of my own).

When I was getting started, I tried flip starting, and never got the hang of it. I'm not if I never got the right info on how to go about it or what. These days, I know a lot more about engines and knowing how to get them started and knowing what engines like what kind of treatment to get started, so I likely could flip start if I felt inclined to (and I picked up a chicken stick, I don't even own one). I do think flip starting will make you more aware of the engine, but only once you're familiar enough with the engines to know what to look for. With out really knowing that info before hand, you can be flipping for a long time.

But I still like that quick bump with the starter to kick things off. works for me.