Microsoft Flight Simulator is capable of extremely complex aircraft systems fidelity. Most capabilities are limited not by the simulator software itself, but by the amount of effort a particular after-market developer is willing to apply to a single package. Developing realistic cockpit systems is very technical, and tedious work. As such, there are only a few developers that consistently do this type of work well.

After first installing the simulator software, it will be impossible for you to judge the simulator's systems capabilities until you have some experience configuring the simulator, and adding additional software that can take advantage of all the simulator has to offer.

Within the PC-Based helicopter flight simulation world there are examples of single and twin turbine helicopters with highly detailed systems fidelity. Including startup/shutdown and engine management that mimics the real-world operations to the extent that real-world checklists can, and must, be used in order for the simulation to perform properly.

Complex avionics such as high-detail gauge packages, Garmin GPS, weather radar, and FMS systems can all be purchased to add very high levels of fidelity to existing cockpit systems with the simulator.