JasonWilliam,
You don't specifically say what kind of plane you have in mind or what kinds of planes you have flown. Others have suggested some glow planes. I am going to suggest that an electric might be a simpler and perhaps more rugged option. Many can fly very slowly and can take quite a beating so if there are some misshaps, the plane will not be wrecked.
In particular I will suggest the Easy Star. Made of tough Elopar foam, this plane can take a real beating. The electric set-up eliminates glow fuel, glow starters and tuning the motor. Plug in the battery and go.
If you have a radio system, then you can get the ARF and have it in the air in a few hours. Long enough for the two of you to bond on the build, but not so long as to lose his interest. When you are done for the day, it packs up in the box it came in.
This is a very stable plane using R/E/Throttle controls. It glides beautifully!
You can fly him up on a buddy box but I find the hand on hand method works better on young children. The disconnected feeling of the buddy box does not help him feel how to fly. And they hate it when you TAKE it away from them.
I have had 7 year olds flying my Aerobird in a matter of 10 minutes. You can do the same with the Easy Star, perhaps even easier.
I launch, get it to height, throttle back to half, then give them the basics. Within 10 minutes I can remove my hand and they are flying with confidence. I manage the throttle. They cruise the area over the field. Never had a kid fail to get it on the first flight. At half throttle you should get easy 10 minute flights.
I land it, but if we kept at it I am sure I could have them land it too. The Easy Star is a pusher type prop, so he won't be breaking propellers and you belly land it in the grass, no landing gear. You can literally shut the motor off in the sky and just glide it down. It glides that well.
If he noses it in, it will bounce. Brush it off, straighten stuff and go up again. If he does break a wing, a little CA will have it fixed in a few minutes. The plane is virtually indestructable. And it won't smell like glow fuel, which will please his mother.
I would recommend the Aerobird, but in your case, I think the Easy Star would be a better option. It can handle a fair amount of wind for a parkflyer and it glides very well so you can get him up to height and cut way back on the throttle. It can fly very slowly. Great for a 6 year old.
It can also do basic loops, tail stalls and similar rudder aerobatics.
Easy Star - RTF - $180
Super tough foam. Comes with 72 mhz radio in the US.
Good parkflyer and a good glider
Radio in RTF package can be used to fly other planes
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240025.asp
Easy Star - ARF - Add you own radio gear
http://www.hobbypeople.net/gallery/240009.asp
Discussion Thread on Easy Star
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=258656
Video - touch and gos
http://plawner.org/video/easygo.wmv
Video - Testing the planes's behavior
http://plawner.org/video/easystar.wmv
Another option you might consider is a flight assistant:
In simple terms, each of these devices uses the difference between sky and
ground to identify
straight and level flight. You release the sticks and it will quickly bring
the plane out of most
situations into straight and level flight if there is enough room. They use
different approaches but the goal is the same. If the pilot gets in trouble,
just let the sticks go and the system will bring the plane to straight and
level flight in about 1-2 seconds.
At 6, children chafe at too much supervision. If you can get him to learn to release the sticks, you can get him out of trouble without taking the plane away from him. They hate it when you do that, even if it is on a buddy box. Over time you trim back the assist till you remove it.
Take a look. They work on electrics, gliders or glow planes.
The Futaba PA-2 PILOT ASSIST LINK AUTO PILOT SYSTEM - Approx $50
http://www.futaba-rc.com/radioaccys/futm0999.html
Manuals
http://www.futaba-rc.com/manuals/notes-pa1.html
Here is a newsletter review on the Futaba PA
http://farmclub.torqueroll.com/NewsL...Apr02-3rd.html
FMA Co-Pilot Flight stabilization system - $99
https://www.fmadirect.com/site/Detai...m=1489§ion=20
Co-Pilot with receiver $180 - may have extra features - not sure
https://www.fmadirect.com/site/Detai...m=1722§ion=29
Backyard Flyer Product review
http://www.backyardflyer.com/BY/articles/co_pilot.asp
Product Review
http://www.fmadirect.com/support_docs/item_1040.pdf
In-flight demonstration -e-glider
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_2axes.wmv
In flight demo - flying wing
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_delta.wmv
In flight demo - Helicopter
http://plawner.org/video/copilot_heli.wmv
As you can see from the video, they do not interfere with the flying of the
plane at all. They simply add a level of self stabilization that is already a
characteristic of a trainer. So if someone says this will interfere with your
flying, they are wrong. That is the value of the videos.
I have not used either unit personally but everything I have read says they
work as advertised. I have spoken to people who have used them and they say
they work very well if you take the time to calibrate them and to understand
their purpose and their function.
Both can be adjusted from a 5 channel radio
so you can change sensitivity and assistance level from the radio while you
are in the air. Both can
also be adjusted on the ground if you only have a 2-4 channel radio.
I think you are doing a great thing. I think the Easy Star would be a great plane to help you. The flight assists would just be another level of help.
Good luck and keep us informed.