one thing about the BB system is that alot of instructors will grab control of the plane way too soon. the minute it gets a bit out of pattern they would take it and move it back.


last weekend I took someone up for his first time. I took him up, explained the controls while I flew the plane (to show him what does what and how) then gave him the sticks, I only saved it when he was about to cross the flight line or got below 1 mistake high.

by the end of the second flight he was doing rough figure eights over the field (I still had to tell him to pull back more and general couching) but he would go for several minutes before I would need to have him climb a bit or move him over or something.

the buddy box lets you take control immediately so you dont have to save it in a hurry, thus giving the student more stick time and the ability to save it on his own... one time he got a bit disoriented and asked for me to take it.. he was high up so I told him no, that he had plenty of room to recover, and he did.

I dont see the buddy box as something to keep the student out of trouble, I see it as something to let them get into trouble safely so they can learn to get out.

oh, and I like the switch better as you can hold it in a "relaxed" state while the student flys