“First of all,” Larry said, “I’d go over to the weather display board, to see what the flying conditions would be.”
“You did learn!” Tommy was pleased. “Yep! That’s important. Then——”
“I’d notice the windsock, while I’d go to my crate. If it wasn’t already running, I’d start the engine—being sure to repeat every syllable of the ‘mech’s’ words when he turned the prop.”
“You wouldn’t want any mistake on your part to have the juice on when he swung that prop to suck in the charge—good!”
“Of course, if the airplane was on a cement apron in front of the hangar, it would be all right to start the engine there. But in sandy ground, or on a dusty apron, I’d be sure the tail wasn’t pointed so the propeller blast would throw dust on ’planes or on people.”
Pilot Tommy Larsen nodded vigorously.
“Don’t intend to be a dusting pilot, do you?”
“No, sir. Then I’d warm up the engine—by granny-golly-gracious! I forgot something——”
“What?”
“Well, unless I’d seen him do it, before even the engine was started, I’d want to be sure the ‘rigger’ of my crew would go over the crate and wipe it with a soft rag, so any frayed wires would be noticed—and I’d want to be sure he had inspected the ’plane either when it landed last or before I’d take off.”