I learnt, and am still learning, without the help of a buddy cable. My instructor took it off and landed for the first couple times, and I took over at about 10 meters or so above the ground. First I did straight down the field with a tear drop at each end, and then figures of 8, and then climbing and descending turns. After I was reasonably proficient at those manoeuvers, I did approaches and go arounds from about three feet, and finally let it come right down and flared. I think if your instructor is half way proficient, then this system is probably OK. My instructor holds a Japanese aerobatics title, so he`s good.

I handed the box over to him a couple of times when it looked like I was in trouble, but he got out of it OK. My first serious mishap was after about 15 flights when I put it in on base turning final.　　Not sure how it happened, but it looked like a stall/spin to me. I think the battery may have moved back a little and shifted the CofG aft so that when I put in the usual amount of backstick in the turn, it pulled the nose up and stalled. From half way through the left turn, it flicked right and dived into the ground. My instructor thought I had confused right and left, a common problem, but I think the other scenario is more likely. Maybe it`s a good idea to check the CofG before each flight. The battery was secured only by the foam it was wrapped in, so there`s a lesson there.

Almost rebuilt it in a day, and should be back flying next days off.