Let me tell you my experience.

I first got into the hobby when I was in high school, my dad and I were into the hobby. We bought an airplane all the goods. We built it but really didn't know how to fly it. Went down to the hobby shop and asked the owner if he could show us to fly. He was not an instructor. We met him at this spot just off the highway. He flew the plane around and then let me fly it around. Was a piece of cake. My father and I determined that it was pretty easy and we went out by ourselves the next day. Taking off was easy, but the plane got very far away and I lost control and it went down in the middle of a highway. No one was hurt but it could have been really bad. We didn't know about MAAC or AMA, no one ever told us. Later we rebuilt a new trainer a good a instructor to train me, much much better. I learned how to fly in a matter of weeks, this was without a buddy box as well. Accidents always happen but if you train with an instructor they are less likely and you will enjoy the hobby much more. Alot of people who try to train themselves end up quitting due to frustration and anger due to the fact they crashed thier plane.

Stick with it, this is an awesome hobby.

Later.

Ryan