IL-2 STURMOVIK1946 is probably the best overall flight simulator I have ever flown (and I started with an Apple II flight simulation in 1982 and moved on to "Red Baron" in 1991 or so). Il-2 1946 is very complete and approachable. For beginners, there are easy to use "easy" arcade-type settings. If you want to experience what a German retired WW2 fighter pilot called "this is what it was really like", then you can use the advanced settings. If you want to fly almost any WW2 fighter that wasn't modelled in Il2, then you can download free "mods" from a dedicated community. Just Google the words "il-2 mods." I flew a few warbirds in aerobatics (Mustang, Spitfire 9, T-6 Texan) and I agree that il2 is the closest to what I experienced. You can play campaigns and individual missions or make your own missions. I highly recommend it.
