I’m Kayla. I fly at home a lot. Not the real sky, yet. But I spend hours in sims with a yoke, pedals, and a big goofy grin. I’ve tried the big ones and some small ones too. Some days I want smooth and pretty. Other days I want a serious challenge. Weird how both can be true, right?
For the quick-and-dirty rundown of my current favorites, you can peek at my best flight sim software roundup.
My Setup, So You Know Where I’m Coming From
- PC with an RTX 3080, Ryzen 7, 32 GB RAM, SSD
- Honeycomb yoke and throttle, Logitech rudder pedals
- Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS for jets
- TrackIR on most days; Meta Quest 3 for VR days
- Add-ons I use a lot: VATSIM, Navigraph, SimBrief, PMDG 737, Fenix A320, A2A Comanche
One of my secret shopping spots for quirky but useful extras is Abacus, which still cranks out affordable aircraft and mission packs for several of the sims below.
I’ve spent about 600 hours in Microsoft Flight Simulator, 250 in X-Plane 12, 180 in DCS World, and around 90 in IL-2. I know, that’s a lot of sitting.
Microsoft Flight Simulator: The One I Keep Coming Back To
This one looks real. Like, spooky real. The first time I flew over my grandma’s house, I waved. She couldn’t see me, but I did it anyway. If you’re curious how the wider community feels about its photo-real world, TechRadar’s in-depth review paints an equally glowing picture.
Real example: I planned a short hop from Seattle to Portland with SimBrief. I filed on VATSIM. Rain hit hard. I shot the ILS into KPDX, runway 28L. I had 22-knot gusts, and my palms got sweaty. The PMDG 737 felt heavy and honest. If you’re curious how far a home setup can push big-jet realism, here’s my candid take on flying a 737 at home.
Another night, I took the A2A Comanche into Jackson Hole at sunset. The Tetons glowed pink. I could smell pine in my head. Not real pine. But close enough.
What I love
- The world looks alive: traffic, clouds, city lights, snow lines
- GA planes feel right, especially with the Working Title avionics
- Short bush trips are bright and fun; I did the Alaskan sandbar landings and felt brave
What bugged me
- When I push graphics, frames drop, even on my 3080
- After big updates, I sometimes chase little bugs
- Live weather can be moody; once it froze on me near Denver
Would I call it “best”? For beauty and big smiles, yes. For strict training? Sometimes, but not always.
X-Plane 12: When I Want The “Pilot Brain” Workout
X-Plane feels like the teacher who lets you mess up, then makes you fix it. The ground friction, crosswind dance, and flare timing feel very true.
Real example: I took a C172 into Oshkosh with real weather and a 16-knot crosswind. I worked the rudder like a sewing machine. Heel-to-toe. Tiny inputs. It clicked. Not graceful, but safe. I sat back and just said, “Okay. That’s flying.” That hop reminded me of my broader look at flying a Cessna at home, where the little quirks really shine.
Another time, I flew the Zibo 737 into Boston at night. The ILS went fine. But I floated the landing. X-Plane made me pay for it with a long rollout. Fair.
What I love
- Control feel in small planes and helis is honest and crisp
- Night lighting on the runway is clean and useful
- FMS and procedures feel stable and steady
If spinning rotors are your jam, here's my no-nonsense rundown of the best helicopter flight sims. And if you dream of that side-yoke glass-panel life, my unfiltered Cirrus flight sim review digs into that streamlined cockpit vibe.
What bugged me
- The world doesn’t look as rich out of the box
- VR felt heavier for me than in MSFS
- You often add scenery to make it pretty, which takes time
Is it “best”? For practice and skills, it might be.
DCS World: Combat, Sweat, And Switches Everywhere
I start cold and dark. Every switch has a job. Every mistake gets loud.
Real example: A-10C at Nellis. Start-up took me seven minutes with a list. I rolled out low over the desert, locked a target, and felt my heart take off. Later, I tried a case I pattern in the F/A-18 off the boat. I boltered once. Okay, three times. Then I trapped. I whooped. Yes, I was alone in my office.
What I love
- Systems depth is wild; the study jets teach you
- The sound and feel make me tense, in a good way
- Multiplayer is a rush when it all clicks
If you ever want to hash out tactics or swap cockpit screenshots with sim pilots in Asia’s late-night time zones—think Tokyo, Seoul, or Manila—you can drop into InstantChat’s Asian aviation channels. You’ll find real-time chatter, quick answers to checklist questions, and spontaneous group-flight invites that keep those regional skies busy.
What bugged me
- It eats time and brain cells; you need to study
- You buy maps and modules; the cart gets heavy fast
- Frames can dip in busy scenes with VR
Best for combat? Hands down.
IL-2 Sturmovik: WWII Grit With A Graceful Touch
This one is a mood. Wind, wood, and oil. It’s less buttons, more feel.
Real example: I flew a Yak-1 in winter over Stalingrad. Low clouds. Frost on the edge of my view. A 109 slid past and I pulled too hard. The wing whispered, then snapped. Lesson learned. Next sortie, I kept my speed up and lived.
What I love
- Dogfights are fast, clear, and fair
- Damage looks and sounds right
- Runs smooth on my mid-high PC
What bugged me
- Not many cold start steps; less switch fun
- Fewer civil flight paths; it’s war, not errands
Best for WWII fun? Yep.
Aerofly FS 4: The “I Have 20 Minutes” Sim
It loads fast. It’s smooth. In VR, it shines.
Real example: Extra 330 over San Francisco in the Quest 3. I rolled over the Bay and kept my eyes on the horizon. No stutter. It felt like a smooth ride at a county airshow.
What I love
- Super quick load times
- VR is clean and easy
- Great for short, happy flights
For pure stick-bashing practice without risking a balsa pile-up, Phoenix is still a sleeper pick—here’s my no-drama Phoenix RC Flight Sim review. And if you’d rather sample a buffet before you maiden that real foamie, I tried the best RC flight sims so you don’t turn your pride and joy into confetti.
What bugged me
- Systems are lighter
- Fewer big airliner toys
Best for quick joy flights.
FlightGear: Free, Open, And Surprising
It’s free. It runs on a lot of machines. It can look nice with tweaks.
Real example: I took a Cessna 208 to Catalina. Fog rolled in. I set for a short field landing and made it. Frames were steady on my old laptop. I sat there thinking, “Huh. That was good.”
What I love
- Free and open
- Community stuff can be clever
- Good for learning basics
Mac flyers who lean toward foam and balsa can skim my RC flight sims for Mac roundup for some surprisingly solid options.
What bugged me
- Setup can take patience
- Graphics need work to look modern
Best if you want free and you like to tinker.
Prepar3D: Old School, Still Useful
It’s the grandparent of many home cockpits. With add-ons, it can feel very “trainer.”
Real example: I