I started using it after I developed my scan, but I still found it helpful for practicing approaches. Usually I would do the approaches for a lesson the night before and I found it a good way to stay prepared. When I felt like practicing without an upcoming flight lesson I would print out the plates for another part of the country and fly approaches into unfamilar airports.

Flight Simulator 2004 really helps the instrument scan if you practice it correctly ; I would use the Flight One Cessna 172 Skyhawk VATSIM is a great way to keep your radio work sharp too .

X-Plane by Austin Myers is an excellent pc/mac desktop sim also. It is more accurate in terms of flight dynamics than FS, although I think FS does better on visuals and has more airplanes. He got it FAA approved for certain PCATD applications last year and I don't think FS has ever been able to do that. I have always practiced approaches on pc based sims. It helps visualize the approach even if it is kind of cheesy compared to the real thing. As for flying around in flight sims for fun, it's not very interesting if you fly the real airplane.

I tried X-Plane and the only problem I have noticed is that with a wider screen the panel doesnt cover the entire screen... there are strips on the sides where you can see the scenery but not the panel.

Also I dont like the interface. but you are right, the "feel" of the planes is alot more realistic than FSX.

I think X-Plane is max 1280x720 pixels, so if it fills more screen than that you have to crop it somehow. It fits the normal 4:3 monitor shape. As for as interface, not sure what you mean by that but I have a CHProducts 6-throttle quadrant, joystick, and rudder pedals hooked up to it and would not want to use it without those controls due to rapid response the program has to to inputs from the pilot. It really is a more dynamic sim than FS2004.

One thing you can do with it, and I tried this, is set up a network with a second pc running a second monitor. You can divide up the visual content to allow a split of the visuals and give half of it to the slave computer. It's a mess getting it all set up, but when you do you have an expanded graphic output. I had mine split up so the aircraft panel was mostly on the bottom and the forward view out the window was on the top monitor. I eventually gave up on it because the computers weren't evenly matched and the slower one couldn't keep up. The faster one had a frame rate of 60 frames per sec. and the old one would barely manage half of that which was distracting. It was neat to see all that graphic content though. If I had the money to buy 3 matched computers I might give it another try. For practice you only need one pc and I use it for approaches and not much else. It is not accurate enough to model computational fluid response without which you're basically guessing in any flight sim.

I am a very active member with Flight Simulator.. Also on the Vatsim network.. Not to mention all of these other things stated.. With Vatsim it will even help you with your radio talk. It has definitly helped me. I recommend you to buy it.

As far as the interface I just mean the general program isnt nearly as organized or user friendly as FSX... I like the program itself and the visuals are decent... it definitely needs a newer version though. the updates just dont cut it compared to the visuals of FSX.

Also I have a widescreen monitor so thats a lot of why it cuts off the sides... Cant win em all right? haha

Agreed. X-Plane is a fussy program aimed at perfectionists. It doesn't do a lot of the things FS does so well, but has the best flight model currently available. The average user does not care how accurate the flight model is since they have never flown a real airplane.

but those of us who do on a regular basis get frustrated... but then again the best sim short of a level D sim is frustrating.. haha

I think it's an awesome way to stay proficient especially if you're not getting much hood time in. It's great for practicing hold entries, flying full approaches, flying NDB approaches, all of that stuff that doesn't get done too often.