Supersonic propeller spindown of neutron stars in wind-fed mass-exchange close binaries

The supersonic propeller spindown of a neutron star moving in a strong stellar wind of its massive companion is discussed. I show that the supersonic propeller model presented by Davies & Pringle (1981) is self-consistent if the strength of the stellar wind of the normal companion is (M) over dot(c) less than or similar to 2.2 x 10(18) (M-ns/M-.) V-8 g s(-1). Under these conditions the model can be used for the interpretation of the long-period pulsars in Be/X-ray transients. The spin history of the neutron star in the long period Be/X-ray transient A0535+26 is considered.