There is so much to learn, no questions are stupid.

There actually is a lot to learn, and a sim can't cover even half the details. If you plan to learn on your own, plan to be replacing airplane parts unless.......

Finding a teacher who will buddy box can save you money and time. He will show you a bunch of stuff that a sim can't. Setting up the equipment, dealing with the engine, and such. All a sim actually simulates is the part where you wiggle the sticks. Most of the rest can kill airplanes. With a buddy box, there is someone backing you up who will save the real model airplane in flight, the one that costs more than the sim. And who probably will save the real model before you try to fly it.

Check out the RC Simulation forum here at RCU. Look at the threads that mention the free sims. You might use one of those. But sims won't teach you much more than stick wiggling. And that isn't all there is to it.