Audie: Congrats on your purchase. I have the NexSTAR Select and loved flying it (still have it but have advanced a bit since last Summer).

It is very easy to fly, is very forgiving. My biggest problems were getting lined up correctly with the center line of the runway (real life not sim). The sim helped me a lot because it taught me points of reference to watch for but with the sim, the wind is pretty much constant (yes, you can change it, but not during flight, or not normally during flight because you are consentrating on flying and the unknown wind change or gust is what I'm talking about). That will change your point of reference the square pattern (downwind, base, final in definite processes). That's where the instructor comes in (this is, of course after you have done numerous figure eights, right turns, left turns, approaches at high level, simulated dead stick landings, and so on). Once you get the idea about how to use the elevator and throttle to land, and have done so about a hundred times, you will have it to the point where you will feel good about flying alone (solo attempt) and get that done. Remember that the throttle, used properly, will allow you to select the point of the touch down (rate of descent).. more throttle will extend the approach.. and so on. You probably know what I mean.

The best thing I can recommend is having the instructor hooked up via buddy box and then go from there. He may get bored, but there is one time in 10 that he will save your butt and your plane.

As far as the NexSTAR is concerned, crosswind take-offs are a bit of a pain because of the high wing dihedral, the wind will tend to grab that high side and want to flip it around so during cross winds, fast take off and control with rudder and ailerons help a lot. Once you are up a bit, you turn and gain altitude to get out of that mess (meaning that you will be high enough that you are two mistakes high and can see what is happening). Also, I usually did 10 to 12 minute flights at a time mainly because I found that my brain was getting saturated and I had to land to get my mind straight. Then, after about another 10 - 15 minutes, refuel and go back up for another 10 - 12 minute flight. There is no need to push the limits of the fuel capacity during training.. just doesn't make sense. You don't need the added burden of a for-real dead stick on your first day out. The more you gain experience, though, the longer your flights will get then you really need to set a flight timer.

Don't stop using the sim, though, it is great to practice on and you will definitely get some benefit out of flying that way.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

Dick.