I'm going to make the suggestion that you go with RealFlight. While I like Phoenix RC, it's no longer being supported by the company as they have stopped making it. I believe Runtime Games, the manufacturer of Phoenix RC, folded a few years back. But, that said, there's still people who really like it - if it can be found.
RealFlight, however, has got support for a ton of aircraft that you can purchase and fly in the real world - Apprentice STS, Eflite Turbo Timber, Twin Otter, several jets, even helicopters. They have a version of it for $200 that comes with a Spektrum DXS, which can then be taken and used as an actual transmitter for flying planes as well, so you can move straight from the simulator to flying the real thing without needing to buy a transmitter, if you are planning to go that route.