heres my 2 cents, i have bought and trained on the nexstar. i had about 6 hours on the sim before i went with my trainer for buddy box training. the sim will help you with the control imputs. but it will not help much with takoffs and landings. takeoffs can be hairy due to a loose nose gear. do not hook up the flight correction stuff. and do not train with the speed brakes (flaps). the plane have pleanty enough lift with out them and my trainer found they gave the plane way to much lift. had to trim alot of down elevator into the plane just to get it to fly right. thus so when you take them off you have to re trim the elevators again. so i wouldent bother with them. i would count on about 10 mins. of flight time could go 12 but ide play it safe. besure to train on calmer days. the plane is a floater and can be quite tricky to land in a stiff wind. leave the wing tips on untill youve soloed and are comforatable with the plane.