John Clonts wrote:
My $.02-- FS2004 is good enough for procedures and scan. Don't bother
buying a yoke or pedals. Use a cheap "gamepad" type controller with
thumb-joystick (instead of a grip/wrist joystick). Go to "user
controlled weather, advanced" and turn turbulence to max, both on the
clouds panel and the winds panel. Give yourself a 30 knot crosswind
while you're at it.

agreed. If you already have MSFS, just stick with it. No need
to spend any more. I got a cheap joystick that I could
use with my left hand. Most are made fighter-pilot style using
your righthand. As for the turbulence and winds, save those
for later on. First get you scan going. My CFII had me
doing a clover leaf pattern (name?) at set airspeeds and
vertical speeds. This is what simulators are good for. The
one thing that MSFS is bad for is true power settings for a performance.
Generally, learn what power settings give you a performance and
then use it on the flight sim but not in the actual airplane. Doesn't
really matter in reality though on the simulator.

Gerald