angelo Campanella writes:

So I went out and spent just over 20 bucks (with tax) and installed it
this eveing. All I can say is that it's come a long way, baby (since
FS5). It seem to have all I need for IFR practice.

It's especially good for that. Since there's no physical movement and limited
visiblity, it's less useful for VFR. But since IFR is all about watching the
instruments, and since the instruments are simulated quite well in FS, it can
be very useful for IFR (even though it's not certified by the FAA).

I mounted he Mooney (like my acft) ans am now getting familiar. but the
yoke I have (a Logictec Wingman) has a very sqirrely rudder. The rudder
is all over the place! I can't tell whether it is the pot inside or bad
logic somewhere. Taxiing is a menace, and takeoffs a pain in the butt.

Consider getting a set of pedals. It makes flying the sim a lot more
enjoyable, especially for VFR. I use the Saitek X52 joystick and throttle,
plus the Saitek pedals.

Also, consider getting payware add-on aircraft. Many of the payware add-ons
are so good that using them is almost like getting a new, upgraded simulator,
and they match the real aircraft exactly in appearance and almost perfectly in
behavior, particularly for instrument flight. RealityXP makes a set of Garmin
GPS units that behave _exactly_ like the real things (because they use
Garmin's own software), and you can practice on the sim and then use the same
GPS unit in real life without missing a beat.

My favorite aircraft for GA is Dreamfleet's Beechcraft Baron 58, but if you
fly a Mooney there's probably someone else out there who has an ultrarealistic
version of that. (Not that the default FS9 aircraft are _unrealistic_, but
the add-ons are in a class by themselves.)