Quote:
Originally Posted by Oberon
I wonder how many other front line aircraft in WWII were hand-cranked.  |
Some of the US Navy's and Army's early radial-engined planes were. The crank doesn't turn the engine, but speeds up a big flywheel, the sound heard at the beginning of the video. A clutch is then engaged. In some old you can hear a quick descending whistling sound as the flywheel decelerates and the engine starts.
Oop! Found one!