Yeah i've played Orbiter, not really what i meant though. you're confusing space with sci-fi, they aren't naturally always brothers.
Think of some kool vtol jet helicopter, like something from battlefield 2142, but that designers have intricately detailed right down to having the entire physics model believable, if it were to exist in reality. It would take a lot of imagination to have a fully functioning dashboard, and a model of systems that it probably has, like hydraulics for tilting the hover engines. You could have a lot of make-believe quirks in the bird, that would make it a sim, even it it isn't actually simulating a real aircraft.
I appreciate you guy's input, thanks. I still need to try x-plane.
Oh and deadsmell, i agree about the LAPD idea, that would be quite nifty.