RE: simulator for 3D practice?
RC4 I am going to get off topic a little. I have the Real Flight G-2. It's fine to hover with but two easy to do it IMHO. It will teach your thumbs the right movements but I got board with it real quick. I would suggest you build a SPAD 3-D. The plans are free and you can build one for $15. The first one took me a day. The next one took me 4 hours. I have since out grown it but it was a great tool. It will hover, harrier and flat spin really good. Anything else is so-so. I think it taught me better rudder and throttle control than the rest of the guys I fly with. When you start to 3-D the left stick becomes real important.
David