I think for me having some real flight experienc helped a lot because nobody had to tell me to circle for a landing and I knew how stuff works so I was ready for it. I only did about 2-3 hours on a simulator and the next day took my new Avistar to the field with a friend and a buddy box. He took off and for the next 3-4 flights he complained that his tumb hurts from holding the "trainer" button down. I was flying a solo and some basic aerobatics the next day.

However. I would have not taken it up to the air by myself and I don't recommand anyone without experience to do so.

What I do recommand is training with the Flight Model Simulator as the feeling on the simulator flying the avistar model was very much like the feeling in the field flying the actual modael.