Hucks starter

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article or section needs to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please help improve this article with relevant internal links. (August 2007)

A Hucks starter is an auxiliary power unit, almost always a motortruck that provides initial power to start up piston aircraft engines. Such Hucks starter trucks can be considered a mechanical replacement for a member of the groundcrew who would have spun an aircraft's propeller by hand. This is because of the starter truck's position in front of the airplane when starting, much like a groundcrew member.

The power is transmitted to the aircraft via a power take-off shaft, much like found on the drive trains of rear wheel drive vehicles, or agricultural machines. The shaft of the starter fits into a special protruding hub on the center of the airplane's propeller assembly. When engaged, the power of the truck's engine is transmitted to the aircraft engine until start up and then the starter truck clears the area prior to take-off.

This article does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.