You should give it a try. Hell, was I nervous and excited during my first ever onlight flight with old IL2 (v1.04). I was so nervous that I hardly could keep my plane steady because I was so much shaking and my aim was accordingly. I though scored some hits on a bomber during my first online contact with an enemy aircraft (I don't remember any more its type). It was on the old small desert map.

And my first online kill is like having happened yesterday. Most of the others I forgot.

You really should give it a try.