So I recently went on a GA binge

[Jason M Tutwiler]

I bought elite xts, with the gtn 650 / 750 plugin and updated american nav maps.  I also purchased the G1000 from Flight1 Tech (they make accurate stuff) AND i bought their GTN 750, 530.  And last but not least I purchased the safetaxi plugin, also from F1T.  GA with just round gauges can be quite challenging.

Regards,
Jason Tutwiler

[cagarini]

ELITE is an excellent IFR training tool.

Congratulations! 

You know you can use ELITE XTS together with P3D, on a second ( or more ) monitor(s) for visuals display, keeping the instruments panel in another display.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx93YXQ7xZY

and it's now even simpler ( they sell an add-on for that ):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp34EGR2XDM

[thecrazedlog]

Hmmmmmmmmmm. I'm a low hours PPL that is getting back into it and, among other things, considering a PIFR (Private IFR, I think unique to Australia? Its a cut down version of full IFR). I wonder if this is worth keeping in mind......

[cagarini]

Well, in the limit even PSX can be used for basic IFR training ... although it's a too complex aircraft and instead of training your IFR exercises you're spending time with other useless ( for that purpose ) stuff.

ELITE is by far the best available desktop tool for that purpose, but it has some limitations and it's very expensive to keep updated in terms of nav database. Yes you could try to use FSX, XP, etc... for the purpose, but the functionality and ease of use + features provided by ELITE for IFR scenario training ( no ATC included, although there are some old products that can be used for some kind of basic ATC interaction  simulation ) are by far better than what those sims offer.

Also, the visuals are limited ( not as limited as in PSX, but still not comparable to modern desktop flightsims, MFS being the ultimate example... ), but for pure IFR training, that's not a factor...

There's the Australia region for ELITE: https://www.flyelite.ch/en/shop/elite-pilot-v8-7-software-gen%c2%adview-australia-database-add-on/