Warbirds, it sounds like a 10 inch would be a good choice for your intended purposes.

The Google play store site is accessible on the
web via your PC (play.google.com). You can go there
and browse available apps. You can search the site
for free file manager, or whatever.

When you find an app that looks interesting,
read the features. Scroll down, past the reviews,
to the "additional information". On the right
is a title called "Permissions", with nothing
under it but a link reading "view details".
Click that. It will tell you what information
your free app will lift from your phone and
send to the company providing the app, which will
then sell it on to whatever corporations or
agencies have an interest in such things.

As a user with a healthy paranoia, I imagine you
will find this information highly illuminating.

If you want a "free" app that does not stripmine
your phone of all of your personal information,
you will probably find that the only things available
are GNU public license open source items of limited
functionality. All the really nifty and well constructed
free apps are bait from big data mining companies.

If windows apps are rare do I need an android tablet?

Decide what you want the device to be used for, then look at what software is available to do it. Whichever platform (ie. Android, iPad, WindowsRT or Windows Pro) best matches up is the way to go.

Be aware in Windows, that with the earlier tablets, there were two possible OS's depending upon what CPU, etc. was in the tablet. Windows RT was a lower powered tablet OS, while Windows Pro was full blown Windows, just like what you run on a laptop of desktop. As I understand it, the newer ones are all Windows Pro, so they can run the laptop/desktop programs you are already familiar with. Note: I could be wrong about the Windows stuff, so check with an authoritative source.

Figure out your best software choices first, then get the hardware that can run it.

I use my iPad solely for web browsing and YouTube. That's it. Good job I didn't buy it it's a works iPad.

SD

I am looking at the Ipod air and wonder if that would be as good as or better than an android? For example would GTA Ifruit work with Ipod and is there any flight sim apps for this type? Also should I get one with a large capacity? Sorry but such a noob at this I have to make sure.

Nexus 7, absolutely! I carry one around under my arm everywhere now. Mostly for music and reading on the commute, but it's a powerful tablet, for sure. There's apps for almost every big game these days, like for the SW - X-Wing miniatures game. All the ships and game cards are in the app, it's great for a gaming helper.

Best screen, longer battery life with Lollipop 5.1, biggest store.