I just watched the video again ... and I can see something of value in this.

If you look at the youngsters, you'll see that they are calm and almost passive. There is no frantic activity and control inputs are minimal. They are letting the aeroplane do the work, as it's designed to.

It's been my experience that new pilots expect that the cockpit will be a hive of activity ... that it's only the Herculean efforts of the pilot which prevent disaster... whereas, if there is a flurry of activity, it generally means that something is going wrong. It can take a long time before pilots learn to let the aeroplane do the flying. And then everything calms down.

Having your hand on the student's allows him to perceive that you are making tiny control inputs ... and then waiting to see whether they have had the desired effect.

I don't do much instructing, but I'll give this a go at the next opportunity; in conjunction with a buddy-box. Belt-and-braces.





Meanwhile, I had the privilege to see a chap solo after just two dual flights and some sim work. Here's the video. Go to 3 minutes and 45 seconds and you will see the guy's first landing. He had previously spent a couple of weeks on the flight sim, doing guided practise.




[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGQ7tU8DylE&feature=channel&list=UL[/youtube]