In my opinion Real FLight is really the way to go. I have spent countless hours on it and my flying is all the better. My first two flight I crashed, then I bought the simulator and since using it I have yet to even come close to a crash. In fact after a few weeks of flying my trainer I am already getting board with it and wishing that I had a cap 232 or the Ryan that I enjoy flying so much on the simulator. In fact, after having Real Flight for a few months I can even do some pretty fancy 3D manuevers. Of course there is a little difference betwen the simulaotr and the real thing, but they sure are close! For Real Flight you are talking $120 for the lite and $200 for the full but I promise you your flying will be much more rewarding and it will probably save you money in the long run on fixing planes.