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.

How about this: http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors/kinesthetic.shtml ?

... no buddy box required, or desired, and no handing a control back and forth.

I went to this link and am still curious what his training method exactly is?

I was taught with this method and have seen dozens of rank newbies learn to fly astonishly quick via this method: http://www.kites.org/rc_instructors/page3.shtml

I have finally gotten the attention of several members of the industry who next flying season have agreed to personally witness beginners of their own choosing learn how to fly; both airplanes and helicopters.

I have had and always will have an open invitation for anyone to see for themselves. Want to fly either or both airplane or helicopter?

nascarjoe

Rick, those radios were built many many years ago. I am not 100% but am pretty sure it is built in the early 80s and is not legal to fly. It is of the era that if it is legal to use, it will have a gold sticker on the back of the transmitter. If it doesn't have it, don't use it. Personally, if you want to fly RC, I would seriously look at getting a new radio. I personally wouldn't trust one that is 20+ years old and been sitting for that long. You are way ahead to get one that you can trust not to fail, and batteries on an older radio are almost the price of a new radio and flight pack.

As for the no buddy box training method, I have done it, seen it done and much prefer a buddy cord. It will teach you a lot more, a heck of a lot faster because you can learn lower so you can see the plane, and you can learn stuff in the traffic pattern without worry of the instructor not grabbing the radio quick enough. I have had more students turn away from me when I go to grab it. I won't even teach that way any more. I realize you can get by with the old attack four channels, but you would be way ahead to get an up to date radio and servos and leave the old stuff sit where it can't hurt anyone if it quits.

Just my 2 cents.

Flyboy, My radio does have the little gold sticker on the back, I believe it was late 80's when it was purchased ("only" 15 years ago). I certainly plan to upgrade radios when I can (I won't be using this radio on my second plane for sure) but I figure I'm better off flying with an old AM radio than not flying at all . I guess I won't mention the fact that I plan to shoe-horn my old K&B .45 sportster into the LT-25 *halo* (although I'm alot more likely to come up with $30 for a cheap .25 sized engine than $100+ for a new radio... that's just a dollar per day in my RC penny jar and I'll have it by year end!)

Rick, sounds like you are good to go. How are the batteries? Did you cycle them good to make sure they work under a load or did you have to replace them? You probably have the old S28 servos? They will work fine too. That engine will work. Sounds like your getting it all lined up. Have a blast with it. You will be ok, just don't turn away when the instructor needs to grab the radio or help move a stick. You can learn that way.

Hi Flyboy, I'm still checking the batteries. I charged them up this weekend, and turned on the tx to see how long it took it's little needle to creep downwards, but then I forgot to watch it -- go figure. I'm thinking I'll rig a little LED circuit with fixed current draw to test the rx battery. I don't have a cycler, but one of my coworker's husband is the VP of the local club, so I'm sure I could borrow a cycler or even get him to check out the batteries for me if I ask real nice . Even if I need new batteries, it's still way cheaper than a new tx. The servos are actually fp-s148 servos, and I was planning to pick up a cheap full-sized servo from the LHS for the throttle when it came time for radio installation. (I think one of the servos got lost in my parents basement, so I only have three). I did fire up the tx and plugged in the rx to test all 4 channels and my 3 servos, and lo and behold, I move the sticks, and the servos move! My plane is still far from built (nearly finished with the left wing half after working on it this weekend) but it was still fun just to play around with the radio.

Make sure you cycle the batteries on a cycler. The meter on that radio is not accurate at all. My friend kept testing his by just timing it thinking he could fly it and thought the batteries were good by checking them the way you are, and I put it on a cycler and it failed in 10 minutes. Not a good thing. The cycler puts a better load on them. I like to cycle a pack 2 or 3 times to make sure it is good. It should cycle at least 70% of its rated capacity or it is not something I would use. I actually throw them away if they are below 80%. Not worth risking a plane on. If you watch ebay, you can usually get both rec and trans batteries new for a really good price. I got a couple Futaba brand 1000 mah packs for under $15 brand new from people that bought systems and just wanted the transmitter or there are some suppliers that are really good too.

Good luck.