Starting a Hurricane (1 Viewer)

[Zurger6]

I know, dash over to the kite, leap in and light the fires.
I understand during the Battle of Britain, at the beginning of a scramble, while pilots were running to the aircraft and pulling on parachutes, often ground crews were starting the fighters' engines. After an airman started the engine and it was running at idle, how would he and the pilot exchange places while maintaining control of the elevator? If the control column was allowed to move forward there seems to have been a risk of nose-over, 'not ideal' when the ground crew was all at work around the aircraft.
Can anyone suggest how this might have worked in practice?

Cheers.
[Photo from
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[Engineman]

You are correct, the changing-over of anyone in a single seat cockpit with the engine running is fraught with possible risk. However, with care, it is not actually that risky and the procedure was done on both Allied and Axis fighters in WW2. The described "problem" with releasing the stick and nosing-over is overstated. At full-Idle, the engine was slowly ticking-over at less than 500rpm (prop about 250rpm) and there was little risk unless there was a strong tailwind and in which case, the aircraft should have been pointed into-wind for starting.
For many short notice Alert states, the units would be at Cockpit-readiness with the Pilots strapped-in. However, if scrambled from a lower Alert state, it was worthwhile for the groundcrew to start the engines as the Pilots made haste to their aircraft.
Of course, in a less than War scenario, such procedures were not usually used.

Cheers

Eng

 

[Zurger6]

Okay, I like the answer. There's no risk of nose-over at idle. But as you say still a little dodgy. For instance if someone hits the throttle with his knee in the rush to get off in two minutes it's an accident.
I can go with that. Many thanks Eng.
Z

 

[Crimea_River]

Hurricane Pilot's notes allow engine to be started and rev'd up to 1000 RPM for warm up. Above that, 2 men are to sit on the tail for run up tests.