You don't have to spend $200, there are some good budget RC flight sims out there. The Clearview flight sim is only $30 for the full registered version, and they have a free downloadable trial you can get at http://www.rcflightsim.com Clearview's graphics and physics aren't in the same class as Real Flight G3.5, but with a properly configured controller, it does fly fairly good and is well worth the $30 asking price.

The FMS flight simulator isn't quite as impressive with regard to graphics, sound, or physics, but the price (free) is certainly fair. Even FMS can help a new pilot practice with regard to control orientation. Raidentech.com has a USB E-Sky flight sim controller bundled with the FMS simulator on CD for $19.99. You can download FMS or simply learn more about it by visiting: http://n.ethz.ch/student/mmoeller/fms/index_e.html

For $49.99 you get get the E-SKY USB controller with the FMS CD and a fully registered copy of the Clearview simulator. Two full flight sims with a dedicated radio controller all for the price of an XBox game is a pretty good deal.

The EasyFly2 flight sim might be the best bargain on the market for an advanced physics flight simulator. EasyFly2 was developed by IPACS, the same folks who developed Aerofly Professional Deluxe. EasyFly2 uses the same graphics and physics engines as APD, it simply offers a more streamlined package with fewer models and flying sites. It's $99.99 with a transmitter interface cable, or $129.99 with a USB game controller. You can learn more about EasyFly2 simply by visiting the dedicated web site at http://www.easyfly2.com

I think it's nice to be able to practice inverted flat spins at 11:30PM while I'm in my jammies!