Okay, I know that title isn't very fitting for a Jane's game.  However, previous to this the most detailed flight sim I had ever played was Freespace 2, and yes, I know that's not even a flight sim.  I'm just making an example.  However, as a novice to the genre, I bought F/A-18 and was immediately intimidated by the extent of detail in the game.  Moreover, as thin as the tutorial actually is, it at least provides you with some sort of a basis to work with.  If you search the web long enough, you will find that there are a plethora of customized training missions that will teach you every important nuance of flying the F/A-18, so that you will at least be a functional pilot.