Okay, don't know how I got through the first 40 hours or so, but I looked into my laptop's specs. The processor's only an i3 @ 2,200 mHZ, the disk drive just barely meets the minimum at 8GB, and the Intel HD Graphics 3000 is listed on notebookcheck.net as being unplayable with them finding frame rates on X-Plane 10.25 (high graphics quality setting) of only 4 - 5.7 fps. I did a flight last night and the framerate bounced around from 3.1 to 6.1. I think this machine's just a bit light for what I'm trying to do here.
Over the weekend, I went up and ordered a new gaming computer. CyberPowerPC, AMD FX-8320 cpu, 16 gb memory, 2 tb hard drive, GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card. The Asus PG248Q sounds like it should be a pretty stout performer, too. Really hope this'll get me back up in the (virtual) air.