Perhaps one of the not very clever things I did once.
At a flyin a fire crew had been invited to attend, for their experience as well as our safety.
One of this crew mentioned that he had never been airborne in anything in his life, wouldn't even go on holiday. Several of his mates said "this is just the place to try it"
Upshot was I offered but that the decision would be entirely his, no pressure from me, and left him to it.
Probably after some ribbing from his mates he said "ok let's go for it"
I told him what was about to happen, what not to grab if he was worried. He looked a bit nervous as we taxied out. So was I, he was six feet plus, built like a brick outbuilding, half my age. We took off with him trying not to look scared ****less.
Within ten minutes he was taking photos and texting his wife.
A few minutes later he asked what would happen if the engine cut, I told him what I was doing and closed the throttle, pointed out the glide angle, he understood that we would reach Crail no problem.
He then flew the thing while I took his picture, then he managed to fly back to the circuit where I did the rest.
A very happy man.
I've known a lot of firemen in my days, I used to be one, and they are not the sort to panic in a crisis. So it was an educated calculated risk.

At the charity I volunteer for we've got a lot of experience with flying with sick and handicapped children. Including Downs Syndrome and otherwise not mentally 100% kids.

What we learned (sometimes the hard way) is that you should approach things like this in a positive, not in a negative way. With which I mean that you should positively tell them what to do, and not what not to do.

So my brief is not "in a panic, don't touch the controls" but "in a panic, grab your shoulder harness". Not "let go of the controls" but "put your hands on your knees".

Crash one - seems very clever to me, a great result!
BackPacker - nice input/angle, will store that away (for many situations, not just flying)

Cheers, Sam.

Surely if your passenger is a student pilot, and at the nav stage, providing you are not flying something radically different to what he is used to, he should be able to fly it easily.
My Emeraude has a much lower looking view out the front than a Cessna. A mate of mine tended to fly too nose high until I pointed that out.
I've even let students land it, tailwheel, and as long as I tell them not to let go the back pressure till we are parked, they can manage. Provided they've been taught properly.
On the other hand with a nosewheel instructor one day, at the threshold we yawed a bit, one wheel touched down, and she squealed like a girl and let go the stick! So be aware.

Crash One - He should be able to fly it no problem, and be able to land it etc etc, but I just wanted to clarify the legalities of it. Now I know :)

Thank you all muchly