A friend of mine just posted a virtual flight he did with a C-130 on YouTube. I have this same model I use in Microsoft Flight Simulator and I have to tell you it is pretty realistic - to the point if you don't follow the checklist you can't get the thing started. Fuel, hydraulics, electrical systems all work like the real thing.
For those not familiar VATSIM is a system of worldwide servers where you can log in and file a flight plan and then contact ATC (real humans) who will provide instructions just like int he real world. As computers get to the point of handling more the software seems to keep up.
My last real world flight was back in 1985 with the Maryland National Guard - this at least helps me remember some of the stuff I used to know.