Grosser,
Spot on re the Flight Manual. This was referred to before the attempt to hover with hydraulics off was made - and after the pilot refused instruction from CP to take off and hover without hydraulics. The CP still decided to TO without hydraulics in contravention of FM - to show the pilot that the FM was for sissies and that it could be done as he had done numerous times before. Extremely idiotic thing to do - and there will be consequences down the line. Manufacturers reps in MLB at time were horrified.
Di