It is the most realistic, but you can download the FMS sim for free and it will work to teach you your sticks. I don't think even real flight really prepares you for the real thing like being on a buddy box. If I could drop the 2 benjamins on the real flight I would because it is more real and more fun, but I have the FMS simply because it helped me learn the sticks. It really helped on my helicopter, which is what I mainly use it for now. I have lots of real stick time on planes now.