RE: Could a gyro help elderly student?
Im 86. Thats about as senior as you can get. I also lost one eye to a botched cataract removal operation. Sometimes the airplane just disappears from my eyesight. I find the Eagletree Guardian a great help. When it disappears I just turn the Guardian on 2D and throw the aileron hard over. The Guardian wont let it roll and it just flies in a gentile circle. I usually get it back.
I am currently trying to get the Guardian to work on a gasoline powered Aircraft. Vibration bothers it.
Also when on electric power, set the Guardian on 3D,point the A/C down the runway and set it by twitching the aileron. Then apply power and the A/C will take off straight by itself.