As a young kid I made Airfix 1/72nd models of all the great WW2 ac. Once finished, I hung them from the ceiling and imagined what it would have been like to fly them.

Back in those days, TVs and Radios had valves and the Transistor had yet to make its way into electronic products (yep I am an old 'git'). If someone told me back then that one day I would have a box and a screen and be able to do what I do now I would have thought they were mad or spinning me some science fiction story.

I abslolutely love flightsims, a boyhood dream come true for me!

still not really gotten into the groove with CloD, and find i get more enjoyment online with il2, most likely because my machine can handle it better... but some of the reasons -

being able to dance around 4 people in a zero on one sortie, then get hacked down by someone going fighter in an a20 the next.

unintentionally making someone your chew toy and having them quit with wails of "cheater".

marvelling at a sunset or time of day on a map and still being surprised by it after 4 years.

the sheer cerebral nature that some fights can take, jousting, edging for position