Originally Posted by
HercDriver130
As Rick alluded to above some 3 and 4 engine aircraft have provisions for this sort of thing. I can only speak to the C-130. There were provisions for three engine take-off's in the -1. Min runway length, OAT, gross weight...etc... all within some pretty tight tolerances. In addition the MAC put even further restrictions on it to the experience of the crew I believe. I suspect that it required MAJCOM approval to perform anyway. We also had a provision for doing a "windmill taxi start" in the case of a blown starter on one of the engines. You had to have 7 or 8,000 feet of runway and you accelerated down the runway using the windmilling prop to start the engine. You then taxied back and took off. Again.. lots of restrictions etc... but it was an authorized procedure.
the 727 can take off an be ferried on 2 engines. it's very restrictive as well, insofar as conditions and people required onboard.
also makes the chance of a singe engine approach more real. only big airplane i know of that on a single engine approach you were committed when you dropped the gear. there was no go-around.