When I came into the T-38 phase of training in UPT, in the Fall of 1970, one of the syllabus requirements was to shut down an engine in-flight – actually twice! The point of the exercise was to build students’ confidence in the reliability of the J-85 engine.
The first time we shut down an engine, we went through the “Normal Engine Restart Checklist.” The second time, we would use the “Emergency Engine Restart Checklist,” using the afterburner to restart the engine. For me, it all went well. For others, all they gained was confidence in single-engine approaches and landings.
Because of the number of engines over the command that failed to restart, either through normal or emergency procedures, the practice was removed from the syllabus shortly after my class. Good move!