I have never seen so many people always recommend an instructer. I have a 12 year old son that showed alot of interest in flying, so instead of letting him fly my machines I bought him a Nexstar and downloaded the sim program that is included and told him that when he could take off fly around and land Just to get him used to the plane coming at him use of the controls, we would head to the back forty and I would buddy box him until I felt he was ready to solo. The first time we went out he did everything, fueled it up, checked the controls, etc. I got ready to taxi it out for him he said no dad I can handle it. I told him give it a shot and I would take over if I noticed any trouble. Picture perfect takeoff, I could not believe it. He made a few low and slow flybys, did a couple of loops and rolls and brought it in for an almost perfect landing. Made me proud So I don't feel an instructer is all that inportant, but it would not hurt to have one there just in case.