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The full-range pawl-and-ratchet clutch will permit very versatile operation of an air turbine starter. The need for a full-range pawl-and-ratchet clutch arises from various aircraft anomalies that may lead to ordinary clutch failures and therefore cause unnecessary delays for commercial as well as military aircraft. Air turbine starters containing a full-range pawl-and-ratchet clutch permit running engagement starts of aircraft jet engines at any speed from zero to above 10,000 rpm. The starter automatically disengages from the engine after completing the start and spins down to zero rpm. The concept embodied in the full-range pawl-and-ratchet clutch will provide a new generation of aircraft starters and represents a revolutionary advancement in the state of the art for air turbine starters.