hi guys thanks for allowing me here. i have a few questions to ask.

#1 i currently own fs2002 pro, what files/utilities would you guys say are required/good to have?

#2 what joystick do you guys reccomend to be more realistic?

thansk for having me.
sundrop

Arrestor Cables is still in the same place as always:
www.speakeasy.org/~rhogen/arrestorcables.htm

But, it's now only available in a piece of payware called Flight Deck III.

FSUIPC is a MUST-HAVE, without a doubt.
It really depends on what type of flying you like to do, that will determine what type of addons you'd like to get. WinZip is another one. You'll need it to unzip addon files, but it isn't a part of FS2K. If you'd want to modify your AI traffic, then AFCAD and Traffic Tools should be in your inventory, too.

Give yourself time to figure out what you like, and keep up to date on new addon releases, (thru here), and you'll eventually end up with more utilities than you'd know what to do with. 

As far as joysticks, that depends, too.
I use a Saitek Cyborg 3D Gold USB. But, it's totally personal preference.

Enjoy, and welcome.
Al

As Fozzer says, you can grab downloads till the cows come home, so all you need to do is start, and then keep on going....get what captures your imagination....

Now, as far as controller......I know a couple of us on here use the Saitek X-45 HOTAS.....minimizes keyboard use and for me, it really helps in lots of situations...........
I am not a big fan of Force-Feedback......its a personal choice thing.....

You should really start with saying what you kind of flying you like..

I've never used payware (even though I have ready access to it for zero) & have never used the upgraded FSUIPC either - never had any reason to even think about it ...

There is easily enough stuff available to keep you fully entertained for zero money right here for at least a year ..

don't follow the crowds - follow your nose & if you want specific recommendations just tell us what kind of virtual flying you like ..

thanks pete.

let me try to explain to you guys what kind of virtual flying i enjoy.

scenic flights. thats why im trying to find some very good scenic add on's

the carrier add on sounds like extreme fun for me. im in the military but have not flown any flights involving flight deck operations

Add me to the list of people who fly with the Saitek X-45....it's a great little joystick with lots of buttons that can be assigned for just about anything, which is great, because as has been said, you use the keyboard for very little.  (Plus if you're looking to fly fighters, you'll definitely notice a familiar look and feel to it!)

Also, the Saitek X-45 has a separate throttle quadrant with a cable long enough to keep at any comfortable distance apart.  (I love that it's not attached to the stick...I never did like the little sliders at the base of the stick.)

The only thing I wish that was different about it was that it doesn't have Force Feedback.  That would definitely make for an incredible stick.  lol

As for utilities and downloads, I agree with everyone else, you'll know better than anyone what suits you.  Check out what is available and try it.  If you don't like it, dump it.  (I've dumped more than I've kept probably!)

But SimV is definitely the best place to go for downloads without doubt...

Oh, and I have recently vowed to stay away from payware.  Orville and Wilbur would be rolling over in their graves if they knew that people were charging for pretend airplanes.  lol

Well, as everyone has said, just get what you think you want, try it, and if you like it keep it, if not dont. There ius 1 plane I think everyone should at least try and since you have " tons of bandwidth and room" you should not have a problem with DLing it. Its the B25 from Roy Chafin and its free. In my opinion its the best freeware plane out there as for details and realism. There are a few post over at the raw screenshots part of this forum, see for yourself. The link is

http://www.roychaffin.com/rcs-panels.html

it really is a fine piece of freeware.

Sorry to bring up an older topic but welcome to SimV sundrop, I find detailed planes like the PM2 Concorde are te most fun and I like to use the Top Gun Thrustmaster AfterBurner II Joystick. It has 8 buttons, a large throttle and two rudder condrols (one on the throttle and a twisting joystick)