Hey BigDawg, I drive thru Hadley often for my job, UMASS, Brockway Smith and a number of other places, may have even run into you
This game is nothing like the other flight sims you've listed. The flight model has some simularities.... pull on stick you climb and so on.... but the dynamics of the controls are much closer to the real thing.
The off line practice mode is to familurize yourself with the controls and basic set-up of the user interface. Once you learn your way around the "notebook" and the cockpit, and can pretty much pop the wings off those circling drones in one pass, then use your free 2 week period.
During the free trial, visit the different arenas, hook up with a trainer, and get "hammered" in the main arena
The game has a very big learning curve, and it takes months for some people to even get "passable" at it. I've have been flying here for years, and I'm by no means a "top ace". I still learn new things everytime I fly, but I like the challange, and the friends you make more than make up for all the flights that end in death
Welcome to your new addiction !