If you are bound & determined to do this on your own, the NexStar is your best bet IMHO. On the Sim, Practice, practice, & then practice some more! Turn the wind conditions up to 25+ with extremely high gusts. Turn the AFS off (it's junkIMHO) when you can fly & land & touch & go at will in those kind of adverse conditions, you should be able to go out & fly the real thing. It worked for me. Having said that, I would still echo the reccommendations of finding your local club & getting an Instructor, as opposed to going it on your own. I got very lucky the day I went out & soloed the NexStar on my own, but came very close to loosing a $400 plane right off the bat. If I hadn't got rid of the AFS I wouldn't have that plane today. Use it for a paper-weight! Good Luck!!


Mark