Zeriel's Journal: Ask (a subset of) Slashdot: Flight Simulators.

This falls under the "somewhat esoteric" category.

I have a $90 flight-sim quality 8-axis 24-button joystick+throttle.

I haven't used it to fly anything other than Battlefield 1942 stuff in over two years. (since I retired my last Win98 computer and, with it, my ability to play Jane's Fighters Anthology.)

I require a good flight sim. Any suggestions?
Criteria:

1. Must have a realistic, rather than arcade-style, flight and combat model.
2. A decent story-oriented campaign is preferred, as is a random mission generator or some form of extended replayability.

Bonus points if it's not a straight dogfighting sim, and I can play bomber pilot.

Suggestions for sci-fi sims will also be entertained, with criteria 1 obviously not applying.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:hmm

[Talinom]

I second that nomination on Freespace. It was waaaay fun.

Re:hmm

[Zeriel]

Already played Freespace, many many times. =)

I will try to track down a copy of Secret Weapons.