I know I said I'm taking a break. This thread is related. [FLIGHT COMBAT SIMS]

[FoxTwo]

Back in late 90s and early 2000s there were a number of good aircraft flight sims around, such as Falcon 4.0, LOMAC (Lock On: Modern Air Combat), Jane's F16/F18 series etc.

Maybe have a look around GOG.com and see if they are available now? Many/most of them have TrackIR support (I bought TrackIR just for flight sims back in the day, and I'm still using that very same TrackIR now for ED), and since you have a HOTAS it won't go to waste too.

Hmm after writing this, I suddenly have the urge to dig up my old boxes and see if I can install them into Win10 now I wonder how it'll feel like.... One thing's for sure... the radio chatter in the later sims like Falcon 4.0 and F22 Raptor were damn realistic... using military call-signs to call out targets... even requesting permission to land will have the ATCs giving you queuing instructions...

 

[Vasea Azure]

Back in late 90s and early 2000s there were a number of good aircraft flight sims around, such as Falcon 4.0, LOMAC (Lock On: Modern Air Combat), Jane's F16/F18 series etc.

I bought all Janes sims, the F-15 and F/A-18 ones are still fantastic study sims, only thing close tho it are Falcon BMS mod and DCS planes. Btw, LOMAC is new DCS Falming Cliffs 3, great fun combat sim with less brutal learning curve.

 

[WindWpn]

I still have IL2 1946 on the SDD and with the modding community, it simply will never die and is quite good even to this day. Recommend starting here for the mod community which remains quite active:
http://www.sas1946.com/main/

 

[FoxTwo]

I bought all Janes sims, the F-15 and F/A-18 ones are still fantastic study sims, only thing close tho it are Falcon BMS mod and DCS planes. Btw, LOMAC is new DCS Falming Cliffs 3, great fun combat sim with less brutal learning curve.

Wow cool, never would have made the connection between DCS and LOMAC. I stopped following flight sims games after my Thrustmaster HOTAS gave out (using GAME PORT... anyone still remember those?). I never did buy another HOTAS until this year, 2017, for ED The HOTAS back in the late 1990s cost so much that I had to save like 5 months to buy it on my meagre salary..

The X52 Pro now costs about the same in dollar value as the old Thrustmaster did, but due to inflation, I'd say the X52 is "cheaper" even if the dollar value is the same.