[Mongoose]

My precision aiming with my Cyborg Evo admittedly isn't all that great, but I've learned to compensate at least somewhat, and I think the overall feel that a stick lends to playing the game more than makes up for any detriments.  What I should really try doing is giving the Sidewinder 3D Pro a shot in FS, since it tends to be better with finer motions.

[CP5670]

I use a keyboard only.  You can become good at FS2 with any control setup once you get used to it.

Eh, it's possible to beat every mission in PI on Insane with a basic mouse and keyboard (without cheats) except for the dreaded Crossing the Minefield III. Maneuvering plays such a key part in the mission that only a joystick can handle it.

If you're referring to the last part (the very short one), a keyboard is certainly good enough. Banking is something that is often overlooked, but it allows you to easily fly in corkscrew patterns that are hard to perform otherwise, at least on a keyboard.

[General Battuta]

Agreed; I'm a keyboard-only player as well.

[eliex]

  You managed to survive Crossing the Minefield III with only a keyboard and mouse?

[General Battuta]

No mouse, just keyboard.

[Sushi]

You managed to survive Crossing the Minefield III with only a keyboard and mouse?

That's the one where you come out of the nebula/knossos and have to immediately jump out again, right?

I used KB + mouse, and beat it first try. Although, to be fair, my mouse is wired up as a virtual joystick. I just corkscrew-flew away while dumping CM until I was far enough away to jump out unhindered...

[Kiloku]

I've been having a nice progress for now. Until I got to the mission where I have to destroy the Ravana.. 
If the Ravana doesn't kill me with it's turrets, the greatly outnumbering shivan wings will go after me. And my wingmates always fire as soon as they lock in to the Ravana, which means their bombs are destroyed before they reach the target.
BRB, gonna hang myself with my joystick's cord.

[General Battuta]

Slaying Ravana sucks. Recommend hiding by the Sobek, it'll kill the Ravana eventually, I think.

[Sushi]

Slaying Ravana sucks. Recommend hiding by the Sobek, it'll kill the Ravana eventually, I think.

Yeah, that's the lame (but reliable) way to beat the mission. I hate that one too.

The other main option is to try to snuggle up to the Ravana's hull where it's hard for fighters to get you, then just keep calling for rearm while pounding the thing with bombs. You may have to clear out some AAA and Flak turrets first though.

[General Battuta]

Yeah, I've managed that one. Try taking out the flak turrets above the engines and hiding there.

[headdie]

Slaying Ravana sucks. Recommend hiding by the Sobek, it'll kill the Ravana eventually, I think.

Yeah, that's the lame (but reliable) way to beat the mission. I hate that one too.

The other main option is to try to snuggle up to the Ravana's hull where it's hard for fighters to get you, then just keep calling for rearm while pounding the thing with bombs. You may have to clear out some AAA and Flak turrets first though.

getting up close, clearing some nearby turrets and bombing the daylights out of the capship is my fave tactic

[TrashMan]

Taht mission is easy. I take the Ursa, kill off 2 Basilisks and race towards the ravana, blow up it's weapons subsystem. After that it's easy pickings.

[Kiloku]

Taht mission is easy. I take the Ursa, kill off 2 Basilisks and race towards the ravana, blow up it's weapons subsystem. After that it's easy pickings.

In what difficulty level do you do that?

EDIT: BTW, what's the use of destroying the weapons subsystem? The Ravana keeps shooting me even after I do it...

[Akalabeth Angel]

Taht mission is easy. I take the Ursa, kill off 2 Basilisks and race towards the ravana, blow up it's weapons subsystem. After that it's easy pickings.

In what difficulty level do you do that?

EDIT: BTW, what's the use of destroying the weapons subsystem? The Ravana keeps shooting me even after I do it...

A ship with a destroyed weapon systems theoretically has decreased accuracy.

[Colonol Dekker]

Theoreticaly? I thought it was based on difficulty level as well? In teh wiki...

[General Battuta]

Weapons destruction definitely reduces weapon accuracy.

[Dragon]

And prevents turrets from targetting bombs.
If you've fried target's weapon subsystem you can even launch your bombs at it's turrets and expect them to reach the target (at least on medium).