I've been a WWII plane nut ever since I read my first book. "The Flying Tigers" by John Toland. Yes, I still have it.
Got my first taste of flight simming in the early 80's with MS Flight Simulator on my buddies Apple Macintosh. Oh how we loved flying around those black and white pixelated skies and landing at Merrill Meigs field.
Around '90 or so I got to play F-19 Stealth Fighter on our IBM machine. (Can't remember which model). Of course this was around the time Prodigy came out so I had to fight Mom for seat time.
Then, I'd say '91 or '92 another friend introduced me to F-16 Fighting Falcon. I was blown away. Spent the next few months hammering migs for fun.
The next 17 years were computer dark ages for me. I didn't get another box until 2009, at which time I immediately invested in FSX and a Saitek ST290 joystick. It was heavenly. I took my Lear jet around the world and just had a high time in the various planes. (Over 1000 landings, not to mention the augers.
)
However, the time came that I wanted to shoot at something. I bought CFS3. It was fun for about a month, but I needed to shoot at a real person. The AI just didn't cut it.
A quick internet search led me to AH. I've been here off and on for almost 2 years now.
EDIT: The old ST290 started to give up the ghost, so I got a Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS. Love it.