Sims are great for getting you brain around things like flying toward yourself, and just generally getting familiar with the sticks. But just as driving an indy car on a sim won't get you ready to drive at Indy, I feel the RC sims are a great way to get comfortable with the controls, but don't expect to fly the plane just like you fly the sim.

Do you have windy conditions set on the SIM? Moving air is the biggest challenge you will face on the field. Learning how to deal with that is hard on a sim, but you can practice if you turn up the wind and gust factors on the sim.

Also, flying into the SUN is .... different ... in real life. You should avoid it but sometimes you can't.

Having other planes around you is also distracting, and having other people watching. There is a lot a SIM can't do for you, but it is a great training tool. Reset on the SIM makes it easy. Reset on the field ... not so much!

Get a coach, or an instructor if you can. Even if it is just for the first day. Stuff happens. If your plane is not made of EPP Foam, a small mistake can turn into a very sad experience.

Once you get thorugh the first 2-3 take offs and landings your SIM experience can kick in and help you progress faster than you would have done without it.