Oh, so many stories like that.

A club member was doing a stall turn and looked into the sun and then lost the model - just as he hit the throttle to come down - right at the rest of us on the flight line.

"I lost it!"

"Pull up! PULL UP!" Went about 20 feet over the back of our heads and he got it back but it was a bit exciting.

Yesterday a VERY experienced flyer was getting ready to taxi out with a good size biplane. He flies Mode 1, and when he pulled out the antenna his coat sleeve caught the throttle and threw it wide open! Just a few minutes before our range safety officer had asked him to turn the plane to face the runway to start it instead of into the wind (15 mph with 25 mph gusts). He could have taken out at least one other model and possibly run down another pilot starting up their plane (though, as I said, he's been flying longer than I've been walking and I doubt he would have commensed the taxi down the flightline). Stuff like that NEVER happens on a simulator.

My worst was a stupid little gnat that got into my eye behind my glasses. I quick tried to wipe it out . . . and of course wiped fuel/castor oil, bug guts, etc. in. Both eyes started to water furiously and I landed several blurry planes on what I hoped was the runway.

Any number of fliers I know have been stung by yellow jackets on various parts of their bodies. Including the old "up the pants leg".

And then there's the old Start-the-engine-with-the-muffler-plugged-and-get-glow-fuel-in-the-eyes trick. Starts the flying day off right. Or having the electric pump pop the fill line off and do the same. I luckily had some bottled water in my car when one member had this happen and he used it to rinse hie eyes. Became a standard item in the pin box thereafter.

You never reach through a simulated prop to adjust a needle-valve (I hear that noise in my nightmares. Fingers clacking in the prop. Ugh). Two of us were starting planes on newly installed club starting benches. All of the sudden that noise and my glasses are streaked with blood! That floating, disconnected feeling as I step back and do a finger count. Mine are OK. The pilot beside me bobbled his Glo-Starter and without thinking reached under the nose to get it as it was rolling off the bench. Through the prop. 20+ stitches.

And testosterone doesn't flow on simulators. In real life, when your bud, or nemesis, or the club loudmouth is/are behind you saying: "Well yes, my Grandmother does fly like him now that you point it out." You just do things you shouldn't.