Originally Posted by
Chuck Ellsworth
That is not only easier but safer.
And this is really the crux of the matter. After working in the airline business for 5 years, one thing I learned is that "safety" is highly subjective and often based more on opinion than anything else. Any time someone wanted a pet project to get done, they'd wrap it in the safety cloak but usually couldn't point to any clear effect it would have on safety of operations or people.
I'm not taking anything away from Chuck's statement, but it's right at the heart of the matter. The reason I believe that there is even a discussion on this is that there is no clear difference in what makes in-front any more or less safe than from-behind (so to speak). "It's safer" without any qualifying remarks as to why doesn't actually make a case.
For my money, people have been doing it both ways for generations with an acceptable level of safety so there's probably nothing really in it. I prefer propping the Tcraft from in front because I don't feel like I can get a comfortable grab on the prop from the back. But my mate props it from behind all the time.
Pitts2112