Gas Turbine Engine Starting Sequence
I'll use the start sequence of a JT-9D on a 747-200 as an example. It's typical, and since there was no FADEC and since it took two people having to manually do the individual items that will better explain things.

The f.e. turns on the engine ignition switches to energize the igniter that will ignite the fuel when introduced.

The figure doesn't show the next step, that of starting the engine rotating. The f.e. did that by opening the start valve which directed pneumatic air into the starter. Starter operation was confirmed by the f.e. observing N2 rotation&mdash;the figure calls that the compressor. Some gas turbines use an electrical starter rather than a pneumatic starter.

At 30% N2 rotation, the captain opens the fuel valve and light-off occurs. The captain and the f.o. monitor the EGT to confirm light-off and to avoid an overtemp&mdash;the figure calls that the Peak Starting EGT.

At 50% N2 rotation, the engine can accelerate on its own. The f.e. turns off the igniter and closes the pneumatic vale supplying air to the starter.

The engine continues to accelerate on it's own to idle rpm.

All sorts of things can go wrong, and you practiced those things in the sim, and occasionally you had to contend with them in real life.