Posted for "Dominic V. Crain" <domcrain@pacific.net.au>:

 
 It was my understanding, all these long years, that the purpose of
 cycling the prop in the run up phase was to check the governor control,
 and to circulate warming oil through the hub to ensure efficient
 operation of the governor at the start of take-off and then though the
 remaining phases of flight, all being well.
 Certainly I have vivid recollection of engineering schools for DC3 and
 DC4 wherein the ground instructors stated clearly that was the reason.
 The prop cycling was full, and not just to obtain a "50 RPM" drop.
 Well, until someone can give me a statement that an engine blow-up can
 be sheeted home to run-up governor checks, then I will continue to do
 so.
Further, it seems to me that in the event of an engine failure in
 flight, the first thing after all the standard checks is to get the prop
 into full coarse, which we all know improves the glide ratio
 considerably. Does in mine anyway.
 Wouldn't it be nice if we could have full feathering fan blades on the
 high bypass engines now operating. I reckon the A330 which had a double
 engine failure a few years ago could have made Lisbon.
 But I digress.
 Dom Crain