Here is a bit of a success story. My little brother started playing with my old sim. I was able to give him a little instruction and pointers while he was playing with the sim. I made sure that he did not get into any bad habbits. The kid pretty much soloed on his first flight. I had the buddy box connected and did not have to use it. The transmitter was his on the second flight.

He spent some more time on the sim and within a month he was flying my Sky Raider Mach 2 and my Me-109. He wasn't only flying them but performing rolling cirlces, point rolls, stall turns, and others. He took what he saw others doing and practiced it. Within a couple of months he was flying like he had flown for years.

I'm not saying that every one is like that, but I am now one to believe that a simulator is well worth it. It also helps during the winter to keep the cobwebs out of the mind. You can put in a lot of time on the sim over a weekend versus an hour flight time with the real thing.

Do have an instructor there for the first time out.