i was taught walk behind the plane

Safety should always be first no matter what.

Although rare:

Stooge system could fail
Launcher could mistakenly let go of the model
Prop could fail and send parts forward
etc.

Always best to stay behind a model.

Could step on the stooge line.

For the same reason they will kneel in front of the airplane and reach over the spinning prop to adjust the needle valve.

I always walk in front of the plane and lines.  It is habit and bad things can happen either way.  With electric most of the bad things go away unless you walk out to the handle with the motors running.  (Does anybody do that?)  However, walking in front of the lines means that if the plane is released or starts without anybody holding it (I am sure Nobody does that  ) you are likely to have the lines wrapped around your feet, or worse.

Niel, what's a "needle valve"? - Ken

When we consider our age group, it would not surprise me if the holder had an heart attack as the flyer is walking in front of the lines and off goes the model.. Or in my case I was holding onto a greasy model and the damn thing almost flew out of my hands..Wipe them down if you fly IC.  We once had an incident where a model was launched, went backwards and the lines wrapped around the flyer.. 1/2A model.

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