Like others will say ... and we all suggets ... learn with an instructor ... there is no substitute (opinion)

For me, I soloed two weeks ago after about 2 months with an instructor. I bought G3 when I started the hobby (again, about 2 months ago). By the end of 2 months, I felt really, really, really cocky on G3. I limited myself to only flying the same simulated plane as I have in reality (I used the NextStar when I have a SuperStar). When I could take off, land and circle each and every time ... I continued to practice, practice, practice till it got boring ... and I mean *really* boring ... to the point where I could do it almost without thinking. I changed paramters like wind direction and wind speed and engine stalls (use the K key).

When I could do this, I then *experimented* with other techniques such as flying inverted ...

When I soloed, it did indeed feel very, very, very much like the simulator with the exception that the *human factor* of having no big red reset button came into play. A crash would be a one shot deal.

Flying is very much like the simulator but landing was very different. My field is a grass strip and I seem to bounce far more in reality than in the sim.

But ... and here is the thing ... on the Sim I practiced flying inverted (up is down etc etc) until it too was well understood. On only my second flight after soloing I took the plane to 3 mistakes high and tried flying inverted ... no problems ... and exactly as predicted by the simulator. There would have been NO way I could have achieved that as quickly without a Sim or detailed instruction.

My opinion is that a Sim is very worth it but no substitute for initial tutoring by an instructor.

Neil