I found a story about the Brassler engine pictured.
http://theoldmotor.com/?p=153620

Imagine cranking it over by hand and having it kick back on ya. Geez.

If your old Tin Lizzie kicked back it might break your wrist, or bruise your forearm, make ya cry, maybe...this thing would put ya on the other side of the yard!

From Fargon's link:

Remember the old catch phrase from the 60s/70s?

"There's no replacement for displacement."

I bet there is a ratcheting or clutch style mechanism that lets the thing freewheel when catches or backfires etc.

The old fords and such ya slipped it toward the engine and there was a notch/key way (for lack of the proper damn word), and as ya cranked it over ya pulled back toward yourself disengaging the handcrank in case it kicked back.

If ya timing wasn't good enough, well, it hurt.

Seems like a feller could use a horse on a treadmill to start that.

Better to use a plane on a treadmill. A lot more thrust.

No, the energy won't transfer. ;)

They built one...

Then how does the plane get off the ground??

It's the air beneath my wings. flap flap flap flap flap flap

I thought that was Bette Midler.

Imma need brain Clorox now.

Red Bull, duh.

Can you say mud, boys and girls?