nothing beats an instructor that can take you from takeoff to landing. yes, you can learn on a sim. you can fly to your hearts content on the sim... but if you're going to fork out the money for the sim, why not use it to pay for a club membership and get started really flying.

if someone were to approach me on learning how to get into the hobby, i would NOT say, go get a sim. i'd probably ask them for their budget and give them a recommendation based on that. i might lend them my G2 but i wouldn't ask them to go buy it. the nexstar is a good package, yes, but it isn't cheap. so for those that can afford spending that kind of money on a trainer, power to you. but i would rather see someone with a 380 budget (not including starting equipment) something he can grow out of:

- 6 channel radio ~$180 (Futaba 6EXA)
- Trainer ~$70 (PT40 or WM Skyraider)
- Decent 46 Engine ~$80 (TT 46Pro)
- 2 nice 11 x 6 props ~ $6 (APC)

even that added up is only $336 and it gives you things that you reuse easily. I guess the main diffference is in the radio. I just don't believe that 4 channel radio is good. Rather start with a 6 channel computer radio.

once all the gear is together i'd say borrow a sim. hell i'd lend my to anyone that wanted to learn. sim will get you so far. then it's out to the field with an instructor. i don't have any credentials but i have buddy boxed two dozen people without incident and taught three people to fly from theory to solo.