Tony, Flying once a week is better than not flying at all, but rather than trying to fly 10 flights on one day, three flights a dayover a weeks time would be better. If you figure that each flight is going to be between 12 and 15 minutes. I really don't think you could handle 150 minutes of air time at first. The nerves kick in and you are really getting maxed out for the day after four flights. Three good flights is a good day, throw in a not so good fourth and you don't feel as good going home.

Needing an instructor requires you coordinating flight time with one. My recommendation is if you find one that your schedules will allow three days a week, or at least two, even just one or two flights each, work with him and never stand him up at the field.. You learn a lot from going over your flights in you head after leaving the field."what happened when Idid X, Why?" If you try to cram in 10 flights in one day, you are going to have trouble sorting out what happened that day. There will be problems that pop up, an engine that is giving you some problems. weather, something going on atwork that is digging away in the back of your head.These thingsinterfere with flightprogress

Now, all that said, you may be one of the guys thatafter two flights with the instructor, your buddy box cord gets clipped and you have our wings.I hope that is the case,but if you are likeme, it took severalmonths ofthree or four days a week with at least two flights a day to suddenly have the switch clickand I was able to Solo.

The simulator may help, but don't countonthe free onesfor help. They are not going to do anything to help you fly. Some of the better ones seem to be a great help to the guys. FMSjust isn't a good. Response to stick movement isvery sluggish, lack of visuals, IEyou can't tell where you plane is, all lead to an imperfect simulated flight. I took aUSB cord to my sons a couple weeks back andwe installedFMS. Video card issues cropped upbut we finally got a plane to take off. I've been flying for going on five years now and consider my self an advanced student. Not going to win any contest and whacka prop on landing nowand then. Icouldn'tfly on that simulator. Nothing was like the real world. Someofthe better ones, Readexpensive ones, mayprove much more effective for you.

Thebottom line though is the stick time, real world, orwith a good simulator will advance your ability to fly. The more the better. And the more real world, the better yet.