The problem with this reply is that it's the instructor's responsibility to see that this sort of thing does not happen in the first place. Dropping a student for making a mistake will wein the hobby down to two experts.. and I'm not one of them.

I was taught not to stand in front or to the side of a running engine. The only time I'm in front is during the start-up and run process, with any "close-in" spectators behind at all times.

I also teach the same thing to students. It's like muscle memory.. imbed those processes early on in training (like from day one, hour one, minute one, second one) and right or wrong, they stay there for a long long time. So, try to make those initial instructions worthy of the hobby and of the quality of the instruction.

I make darn sure that when I start the engine, no one is in front of the engine but me (it's awful difficult to start it from the rear). Then I move to behind the engine to do whatever I have to do to get ready to fly, all the time making sure that no one is around in front or directly on the side of that plane with the engine running.

That goes for electric, too, by the way. I'm sure they will throw a prop just as quickly as a glow or gas engine will if not treated correctly or if, asd Mike said, the prop meets it's expiration date. Just consider the RPM range of some of the electrics.. centrifugal force is an awsome power and always a potential prop thrower!!

CGr.

CGr.