MikeSamuel
I have Fly!2K and the new Fly II. I also use Microsoft FS2K and X-plane.
So why all these sims?
Well Microsoft has the nicest "all round" sim with lots of add ons, etc. You can add ProFlight for ATC simulation and there's a huge number of add-on aircraft and panels available. Also, the scenery isn't bad. The frame rates are poor, though.
Fly!2K and Fly II do an excellent job of simulating the aircraft systems. The cockpits are highly detailed and it seems to me that you could certainly work on some basic cockpit procedures with these two sims. There are fewer add-ons available for them. Fly II was supposed to be much better than it actually is, and for moment I couldn't recommend it, although if they ever get the bugs out it will be a good sim. The flight models feel "better" than FS2K and if you have rudder pedals, the toe brakes are actually analogue rather than all or nothing.
X-Plane is an interesting beast since it is the work of one man. It has perhaps the best flight model of the mass market sims but feels rough around the edges. However, the frame rates are stunning.
Avid simmers are waiting with baited breath for Microsoft's Flight Simulator 2002. This is supposed to offer the best of everything on mid-range hardware. Since it hasn't been released, it is entirely possible that it makes tea too
More info can be found on the two most active flight sim web sites. These are:
www.flightsim.com
www.avsim.com
David.