Wessex & Sea King (Westland version) are both started with rotor brake on, for #1 & 2 engines, r/brake only coming "Off" after second engine start. Interestingly, both check lists have "rotor brake - On, 320psi min" as the first check, pre starting No 2 engine.
S76 can be started with the rotor brake on or off, pilot's option, according to my check lists.
Re the Bell 206 rotor blade position, I prefer not to have them all the way round to 90 degrees, about 20 degrees off fore & aft put them in sight, but shows the tie down to be removed.
Further to the Sea King rotor brake, bear in mind that the brake would also be applied to sequence the blade folding post shut down #1, with #2 in Accessory Drive.
The earlier reference to 'an expensive APU', I had to refuel an S61 in a remote WA location, and asked the refueller if he'd mind us keeping No 1 running, with the rotor brake on, during refuel. "absolutely not, no way, etc etc".
"How about the APU, then?"
"OK, that's fine....."
