Originally posted by Steve Lewin
Perhaps I'm confused about this technique then. It seems to me that a buddy box is exactly like having dual controls as in full size (except the instructor can take over directly rather than having to say "I have control" and hope that the trainee doesn't fight him on the controls).
Could you explain how it works ? The one time I tried it, not with Mr Ragland but with someone who claimed to be using the same method, it invoved the instructor hovering on my shoulder with his hand on top of mine on the RH stick. Perhaps it's not supposed to work like that but I can't say was really keen on this guy standing well inside my personal space trying to hold hands with me 
.
It may be that the specific instructor is critical to success and the method simply doesn't translate well to just any old club instructor.
Steve
Steve,
I have to tell you that it's not "personal" at all. I didn't consider him invading my space whatsoever. He is just close enough so you can hear him give verbal instruction. He stands to your right (mode 2) and has his thumb and forefinger underneath your thumb. There might be a little physical contact, meaning a slight touch here and there, but that would only be for no more than 5 minutes throughout the entire training regimen. After that, he stands a few feet away to give a verbal hint here and there.
Judging from some of the somewhat skeptical responses, and what I am finding out is quite a productive teaching method, I would venture to say that Mr. Ragland has something that the RC industry should be very interested in.
See:
http://modelaircraft.org/templates/ama/1098_5.asp
nascarjoe