An engine system for starting a gas turbine engine , comprising: a starter coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to provide torque to the gas turbine engine ; a controller coupled to the starter and configured to evaluate, after the controller has provided an initial command to the starter to assist the engine starting, an engine system parameter and to select from a plurality of start modes for starting the gas turbine engine based on the engine system parameter that represents a starter condition indicating an amount of torque assistance available to the gas turbine engine, wherein the engine system parameter is engine acceleration of the gas turbine engine; wherein the plurality of start modes includes a first assisted start mode in which the starter assists in driving the engine up to a sustainable speed, a windmill start mode in which the starter provides very little or no assistance in driving the engine and a second assisted start mode, and the controller is configured to select the windmill start mode when the engine acceleration is less than a first predetermined acceleration rate, the first assisted start mode when the engine acceleration is greater than a second predetermined acceleration rate, and the second assisted start mode when the engine acceleration is greater than or equal to the first predetermined acceleration rate and less than or equal to the second predetermined acceleration rate, and wherein the controller is configured to provide acceleration commands for the gas turbine engine according to a first acceleration schedule in the windmill start mode, according to a second acceleration schedule in the first assisted start mode, and according to a third acceleration schedule in the second assisted start mode, the second acceleration schedule is more aggressive than the third acceleration schedule and the first acceleration schedule is more conservative than the second acceleration schedule and the third acceleration schedule. a starter coupled to the gas turbine engine and configured to provide torque to the gas turbine engine ; a controller coupled to the starter and configured to evaluate, after the controller has provided an initial command to the starter to assist the engine starting, an engine system parameter and to select from a plurality of start modes for starting the gas turbine engine based on the engine system parameter that represents a starter condition indicating an amount of torque assistance available to the gas turbine engine, wherein the engine system parameter is engine acceleration of the gas turbine engine; wherein the plurality of start modes includes a first assisted start mode in which the starter assists in driving the engine up to a sustainable speed, a windmill start mode in which the starter provides very little or no assistance in driving the engine and a second assisted start mode, and the controller is configured to select the windmill start mode when the engine acceleration is less than a first predetermined acceleration rate, the first assisted start mode when the engine acceleration is greater than a second predetermined acceleration rate, and the second assisted start mode when the engine acceleration is greater than or equal to the first predetermined acceleration rate and less than or equal to the second predetermined acceleration rate, and wherein the controller is configured to provide acceleration commands for the gas turbine engine according to a first acceleration schedule in the windmill start mode, according to a second acceleration schedule in the first assisted start mode, and according to a third acceleration schedule in the second assisted start mode, the second acceleration schedule is more aggressive than the third acceleration schedule and the first acceleration schedule is more conservative than the second acceleration schedule and the third acceleration schedule. <EOS>