Method and systems for starting propeller driven aircraft and other devices. A system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes a removable fixture (130) that is coupled to the propeller (120) and has at least one portion (131a) exposed to a flowstream to rotate the propeller during engine start-up. The fixture is configured to separate from the propeller after the engine (110) begins to turn over (e.g., after the engine starts and/or rotates above a threshold rate). Accordingly, the system can include a releasable link (132) between the fixture and the propeller.