Hello,I know this isn't exactly cockpit building, but if anyone can help me figure this out, I'd imagine it's you guys.At home I have a nice HOTAS, but on the road all I have room to pack is my Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2 (basically a PS2 controller for PC).The issue is that the Z-axis on the gamepad is self-centering, therefore I can't use it very well as a throttle unless I want to hold it in place 100% of the time, which I don't. I've mapped buttons to the increase and decrease throttle functions before, but in some sims like Falcon and IL-2, I really need more precision.I was thinking I could take out the centering spring for that axis and then find a way to tighten up the tension, but after looking at this video, it looks like the stick is all one unit soldered onto the PCB.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNjyw_P6AwM(Sorry for the wierd video, but I didn't bring my screwdrivers with me on this trip so this was the only way I found to see inside my gamepad)Before I try to break this thing, I thought I'd see if anyone here can give me some input:1. Does it look like it's possible to remove the centering spring from the limited info I've provided?2. Are there any alternatives, like a software program that can smoothly and linearly translate the distance I'm moving the throttle stick into speed for increasing/decreasing a throttle axis?3. Alternative hardware is a possibility, but a last resort, since I don't have room to pack anything larger than this, plus we just had our first baby, and on a regional airline FO's income, my spending days are over for a while.Thanks in advance for any suggestions. As a reward, if anyone wants me to pluck a knob, switch, or CRT from the 145 in return for a good suggestion, I'd be happy to (kidding about that).

Sorry to double post (though a day later). I had another thought. Through the Logitech software i can have an axis emulate mouse movement. I believe there is software that will let a mouse emulate a joystick axis. That would be easy enough, however I believe something like that would cause me to lose my mouse as a cursor. Is it possible to have your computer have two mouse inputs not linked to the same common mouse function?

Never mind about the software solution. After some research, it does not yet appear possible to have two independent pointing devices in Windows, though MS and some independents are working on it.