http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products...380#quickSpecs

Get an instructor at a local club, it could save a lot of frustration and or $$$

I did it myself and was fine but it would have been nice to have someone around to teach me about balancing, props, preflight, airframes,trims,motors,fuels,batteries,engines,on and on.

The list of things to learn can go on for pages.

A new plane can do odd things you have never seen on the sim.

What is important however is that you have a good time flying. Help can make it way less frustrating and a smoother start to ensure you have that good time.

Why it is not an absolute must, a lot of people have regrets about trying it alone.