Hi all,
What a shambles of a discussion!
I've logged around 6,000 hours in P3B & P3C airplanes, not including much simulator time.
Firstly, I wouldn't want to be aboard any L188 that tried to carry out a windmill start on the runway without an PFE!
Having done that maneuver many, many times in training rotations, the FE plays a very important part. He, in fact does all the propellor controls manipulation and calls the progress of the engine acceleration.
The Capt. attempts to keep the whole thing on the runway with the other three power levers, to get to the pre-determined Vr and back to a stand still.
The FO is busy monitoring the airplane acceleration, calling the speeds etc, and assisting with the rudder.
If I remember correctly, it's about 20 years ago now, the FE, after holding the PCO up to about 90 knots, then pulls out on the feather button, calls light-off and engine acceleration to about 40%, (fuel & Ign is already on), at which time the Capt. then starts to decelerate, if he hasn't already done so!
And the whole show stops at the other end with all four engines running.
And yes, somebody asked, you can 'buddy' start in the prop-wash of another turboprop I'm told, but I've never seen it done!
Manipulating the necessary controls during a runway windmill start requires all three crew. I for one would not fly in a two-crew L188 or P3.
If any one of you have tried to pull any one of those boost out handles from the Captns seat, which would have to be fully slid back. You will know that it is very difficult, especially if ANY pressure is being input into the relevent control!
I'm not even going to mention the inflight restart procedure with respect to no FE - nope, I'm not going there - in more ways than one!!
Cheers, I think!
