Hey, I’m quite new to flight simulators and I’m basically wondering what the best simulators are?

I’m already well aware of and playing DCS.

I’m mostly interested in modern military aircraft (after WWII) and the one thing I definitely absolutely need are clickable cockpits!
I’d appreciate as many names of simulators according to the criteria as possible to get as much variation as possible.

Also how many modern military aircraft “modules” with clickable cockpits exist for FSX? I guess FSX doesn’t support combat but at least being able to start, fly and exercise air manoeuvring would be nice if there’s a significant amount of such aircraft in FSX.

Also as a parenthesis what are the best civilian and WW-era military simulators? FSX/X-plane and IL-2? Do they have clicky-cockpits?

DCS is certainly the main one. I can't think of other modern combat sims with clickable cockpits.

FSX can support combat with the use of some addons, such as the VRS tac pack, or Skunk Sim works planes with Vacmi.

X-Plane I believe has weapons built in, but I've never got around to giving it a go.

There are hundreds of addons aircraft for FSX and X-Plane.

As for best planes I guess you would need to define what you class as best. Some are best at Systems, others Graphics, others flight dynamics, others sound...

Cliffs of Dover and Rise of Flight are my favourite WWII and WWII combat sims. Wings over Flanders field is also great, but mroe single player oriented than Rise of Flight. Cliffs of Dover is the only one with click able cockpits in that list.

Check out Falcon BMS. It's a free mod, though you will need the original Falcon 4 exe. It has a flyable F-16 with a fully clickable cockpit. Avionics, flight model, and weapons are on par with the experience in DCS. The dynamic campaign is excellent and although it shows its age in parts, it is very much worth your time if you enjoy DCS. I fly both BMS and DCS.

As far as military FSX addons, one fantastic example is the VRS Bug. They released an F/A-18E and it is spectacular. As far as other addons, there are plenty of clickable cockpit planes for FSX; it is just a question of quality. The VRS bug is top notch. Unfortunately it is somewhat limited by FSX when it comes to multiplayer and actual combat use. I would be throwing money at them if they ever ported over to DCS.

I completely forgot about Falcon 4 BMS. It is great.

Falcon4 BMs is quite good the detail in the F-16 is awesome.

I've heard of Falcon. I suppose I'll search some more for clicky cockpit sims.

IMO, Falcon BMS is definitely the best modern jet combat flight simulator with clickable cockpits.

I'd love more tips about any modern (50s forward anyways) flight simulator with clickable cockpits.
Doesn’t matter if they’re new or old.

Meanwhile I’m going to start digging in general flight simulator history in some old gaming magazines. I’ve always flipped by flight sim articles but I know I’ve seen at least a few.

I’m especially interested in FSX addons since I can imagine there being quite a few and I’m unfamiliar with FSX.
There seems to be a “VRS FA-18E” that could be nice warm-up for the DCS module.

Well, then you have an another one:

Jane's F/A-18

There are a few mods which improves the game (which was already great without mods), has some very interesting detail and realism having IMO the best GPS weapon modeling in a modern combat flight simulation (which unfortunately isn't that great in Falcon BMS) and the best and most detailed modern carrier operation.

In this sim, you fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet just like in "VRS F/A-18E" addon.

Regarding modern combat simulation with clickable cockpits set in the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's there's unfortunately nothing that I know of. Actually that era (50's to 80's) was always IMO the most overlooked era in combat flight simulations which again IMO is a petty because it could easily become the one of the most interesting eras regarding combat flight sims.

DCS have recently put out F-86F and MiG-21bis modules

Yeah but not a world to "effectively" play with those aircraft/modules in. For example no Korean War (1950-53) map and associated units (F-80, F-84, F9F, Yak-9, B-29, IL-10, Sherman Tanks, T-34 Tanks, or even the first F-86 variants such as the F-86A and F-86E, etc, etc, etc...) to play in such a map/scenario.
Or something like a Vietnam map/scenario to play with the Mig-21 (and in this case you also have missing all the associated units) although I admit that somehow it could probably be possible to have a fictional late 70's or 80's scenario within the current DCS map and units, if someone decides to develop it that is (in the form of missions and campaigns for example).

Incurring the risk of rising here an issue/discussion so often discussed in these SimHQ forums, it doesn't matter how well made and realistic an aircraft is, a single flyable and greatly modeled aircraft by itself doesn't make a combat flight simulation a "good" one. Actually a well made and realistic flyable aircraft is only a small part in the equation for a "good" combat flight sim, this IMO of course!