Nitro,
Try here http://www.rcuniverse.com/clubs and see if there is a club close to you. You can also try this site http://www.modelaircraft.org/clubsearch.aspx . You may be suprised how close you are to a club or club member. An instructor would be a huge help. I am sure that the other planes you are flying in the sim are probally trainers. Even some areobatic planes like Caps and Extra's fly pretty well but they are not planes for a beginner. If you could find a GWS slow stick or a great planes Yard Stick these would be better for you. They fly slower and are made for learning. If you want a nitro plane any of the dozens of arf's and Rtf's are good. I learned myself hand launching a great planes PT 40 off of a big hill. It was harder than flying with an instructor but I learned how. stay above 40 sized if you go nitro. Have fun, Jeff