SAAB 340 Engine startup

[Teofilo Homsany]

Hi to all:

I have notice that when the pilots start the engines on the Saab 340B the
engines doesn't start completely. They are on a form of warmup start. What
is this really? I would like to know, does it has to do with turbo prop
engines? Well, let me know.

Teo

[Teofilo Homsany]

Well, Philip, have you ever been on board of an American Eagle SAAB 340B?
When the pilot starts the engines, the engine starts but in a weird way. Its
like warming up and then when they are ready to taxi, then they turn the
engines to normal. If its like the engines are on a standby mode before
starting them completely. I'm not into turboprop so much, that's why I was
asking. The engine starts but its like noisy and not on completely.

Thanks,
Teo
Philip Nelson wrote in message <73t52n$n...@bgtnsc02.worldnet.att.net>...
>Doesn't star completely??
>
>Please clarify the question.
>
>
>
>

[Philip Nelson]

[Andy Berry]

On Sun, 29 Nov 1998 22:55:57 -0600, "Teofilo Homsany"
<NOSPAM_...@tamu.edu> wrote:

>Well, Philip, have you ever been on board of an American Eagle SAAB 340B?
>When the pilot starts the engines, the engine starts but in a weird way. Its
>like warming up and then when they are ready to taxi, then they turn the
>engines to normal. If its like the engines are on a standby mode before
>starting them completely. I'm not into turboprop so much, that's why I was
>asking. The engine starts but its like noisy and not on completely.

Pardon the probable lack of acceptable terminology....

I think what you mean is one of two things:

1) (Most Probable) They are started and one (usually left) is put in
feather mode at ground idle. This is usually for fuel reasons,
although it is sometimes used to regulate speed.

2) At the first flight of the day, they must check two or three
things. I think it is prop governor, some type of automatic/emergency
fuel valve, and something else.

HTH

Andy B. ( who has never driven a 340, nor operated a CT7-9B)

[Michael William]

Yep...They're probably just keeping the props feathered while
starting and then taking them out of feather when ready to taxi.

Michael William
mik...@flash.net

>On Sun, 29 Nov 1998 22:55:57 -0600, "Teofilo Homsany"

[Teofilo Homsany]

I think it's because of the father mode.

Thanks.
Teo
Andy Berry wrote in message <36622bc7...@90.0.0.1>...

>On Sun, 29 Nov 1998 22:55:57 -0600, "Teofilo Homsany"
><NOSPAM_...@tamu.edu> wrote:
>
>>Well, Philip, have you ever been on board of an American Eagle SAAB 340B?
>>When the pilot starts the engines, the engine starts but in a weird way.
Its
>>like warming up and then when they are ready to taxi, then they turn the
>>engines to normal. If its like the engines are on a standby mode before
>>starting them completely. I'm not into turboprop so much, that's why I was
>>asking. The engine starts but its like noisy and not on completely.
>

[Peter Fuchs]

Some of the replies that have been posted are very likely what you
saw...most specifically that the blades were feathered (90 degrees to the
plane of rotation). However, some of the larger turboprops, the ATR-42/72
for example, have prop brakes as well. Believe it or not the engines can
run with the props not moving. This is for ground operations only, and when
they turn the brake off you'll notice that the blades start turning very
quickly...no normal slow spool up.

But..it was probably the engines running at low idle with the blades
feathered, then coming out of feather. With much less drag on the prop
blades, the engine speeds up.

There is no "warm up" period on a turbine engine, aside from the little
needed for the oil....

HTH,

Pete

[Steven Levin]

Teofilo Homsany (NOSPAM_...@tamu.edu) wrote:
: I have notice that when the pilots start the engines on the Saab 340B the

: engines doesn't start completely. They are on a form of warmup start. What
: is this really? I would like to know, does it has to do with turbo prop
: engines? Well, let me know.

I'm not sure what you're trying to describe, but I do know that most 340's
don't have an independent APU. Instead, the 340 has a propeller brake that
allows them to lock the prop stationary while leaving the engine running
(since the propeller isn't actually connected to the same shaft that the
engine is on, but is driven entirely by the exhaust gases of the engine, or
"gas generator," as it's known.

This allows the airplane to remain powered up without concerns as to running
a battry low, and having problems starting the engines again.

Steve

[N907AW]

Steve,

The prop brake on the Saab is a piece of excrement! It was always
breaking, it was always deferred. The GE CT-7 -HELICOPTER- engine
Saab decided to install in the 340 was never designed with the brake
installed. Most 340's (in the US)do NOT have the prop brake
installed. None of the 120+ Saab 340A/B's that American Eagle has(one
of the worlds largest Saab fleets) have prop brakes. And after 3000+
hrs PIC in the 340B, I can say it was a fine airframe to fly.
Business Express, once a Delta commuter, had their prop brakes removed
because of the maint. problems they had with them.

TJ, B757 IP
PHX.AZ
(former Am.Eagle SF340 CA/JFK)