On loading the J41 cold and dark I noticed the propellers were not in the start position so I had to use the 'Start Locks Not Engaged' procedure from the manual Ch 6 page 21. I selected reverse, operated the unfeather switch in the correct direction the switch automatically returned to mid position then I selected the power lever back to ground start (F1). When I checked the props proir to start they had crept back to the feathered position ?I tried the procedure again this time after operating the unfeather switch I went to an outside view and noticed the prop takes some time to move and realised I was returning the power leavers to the start position too soon. So as the procedure says wait until the propeller stops moving before returning the power lever to start - I'll read the manual more closely next time :( Glen

On loading the J41 cold and dark I noticed the propellers were not in the start position so I had to use the 'Start Locks Not Engaged' procedure from the manual Ch 6 page 21. I selected reverse, operated the unfeather switch in the correct direction the switch automatically returned to mid position then I selected the power lever back to ground start (F1). When I checked the props proir to start they had crept back to the feathered position ?I tried the procedure again this time after operating the unfeather switch I went to an outside view and noticed the prop takes some time to move and realised I was returning the power leavers to the start position too soon. So as the procedure says wait until the propeller stops moving before returning the power lever to start - I'll read the manual more closely next time :( Glen

Glen : precisely...The unfeather switch operates an electical pump which increases oil pressure in the propeller dome. This causes the prop to unfeather. Accordingly the propeller blades will slowly move following oil pressure build-up. As explained in the manual, in reality the start pump switch needs to be constantly held in the left or right position for the respective side. Since this is highly impractical in the FS environment (clicking and looking through the side window) or indeed switching to outside view (thats your FO I suppose...) one click on the pump is modelled to "hold" for about a minute.The start lock will only engage when the propeller is fully unfeathered. If this is not achieved within said time (about a minute) then oil pressure will drop again and the prop will feather.After the start locks are engaged you just press F1 to return power levers to "idle beta" or "ground idle" or whatever you want to call it. F1 is the safest way in FS. Regrettably in the real airplane there was no precise F1 click ( :() so they had to gauge the amount of forward movement of the power levers to the latter position as explained in the turorial.VangelisPS. Unfortunately the manual warns that excessive usage of the pump results in oil spillage overboard. That is one of the reasons that it is good practice to engage the start locks while the engine spools down after STOP is pressed and not let the prop feather as oil pressure drops. The start locks in this case will engage once oil pressure is less than about 30 psi, an indication clearly marked in the oil pressure gauge.