Theoretically, yes, one could do it.

In reality, this situation is not plausible. It could be done but only in a set of tightly controlled conditions and when pre-planned by a skilled crew.

You're not going to do this by accident and have it turn out well.

There actually is an accident report of a guy trying to do a single engine ferry in a Falcon 20 (I think)... I'll try to find it. That Vmcg thing sure gets in the way sometimes!

I remember reading about a stunt somebody did back in the 50's with a Commander and they where able to take off on one engine. My point is that any A/C can T/O on one engine (notwithstanding bells and whistles) given enough runway. Remember that VMCG is calculated based on the remaining engine at T/O power but if the acceleration is gradual and T/O power isn't applied until you are beyond VMCG you will be able to maintain directional control. Now, this thread deserves a warning! DON"T TRY ANYTHING STUPID

Some knucklehead tried this at PDX in his Corvette Jet. He tried to "air start" the second engine as he rolled down the runway and off the end. I'll see if I can find the accident report....

Could it be done with an empty airplane, I believe so.

By accident? Not a chance in hell...multiple master warnings and cautions displayed prior to T/O, T/O Config master upon setting power, massive yaw, the need to significantly reduce power between some low IAS and VMC in order to keep the nose staight.

Most three and four engine airplanes can be legally ferried minus one engine.

Actually I personally know a retired major airline pilot who relates a story about the 727...back in the day, management started a program to save engine wear (I don't know if they cared about fuel cost then) which required the crew to taxi with #3 shutdown. Not being used to this, my friend's crew attempted more than one two-engine T/O...in every case they realized it immediately, and had the FE start #3 on the T/O roll. No adverse yaw of course.

I hope the PW305 is the standard PW engine, reliable. That is, if that's what your username references. Because the 306B models were not. Every time I see a PW sticker that says "Reliable Engines" they need to put in parentheses underneath it (Except for the 306B).

Wasn't till about 10 years after that PW got the FEDEC software dialed in.

Back to talking about taking off with one engine.

Here's a quick recap of an attempted single engine t/o and a link to the CVR.

Takeoff Ad Absurdum


March 19, 1998 Portland, Oregon, U.S. Aerospatiale SN-601
Corvette
substantial 4 none
The pilot was unable to start the right engine and attempted to take off for a visual flight rules (VFR) flight in daytime VMC with the right
engine inoperative. Witnesses said that the nose landing gear lifted off about 4,100 feet (1,251 meters) down the 8,000-foot (2,440-meter)
runway; the airplane became airborne with its wings rocking and then settled onto the runway. The airplane veered off the right side of the
runway and slid for about a half mile. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate and a type rating, and had 4,500 flight hours, including 125
flight hours in type. “The aircraft has a minimum crew requirement of two,” the report said. “The copilot’s-seat occupant, a private pilot–rated
passenger, did not hold a multi-engine rating and thus was not qualified to act as second-in-command of the aircraft.” The report said that
the probable cause of the accident was “the pilot-in-command’s decision to attempt takeoff with the right engine inoperative, resulting in his
failure to maintain directional control or attain adequate airspeed during the takeoff attempt.”

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.

While i was in sim, we tried this, the airplane will almost fly itself off it you let it roll down far enough. So yes i would say it's possible.

Didn't XJ and ZW ferry engines around with the 146/Avro?

How would you do this on accident? if one of the engines is shut off it will be locked back below idle. so on T/O you put the power up, o wait, one is shut off and locked. it would be quite apparent that one engine is shut off when only one thrust lever is up.