Can anyone recommend a relatively cheap gamepad with a bunch of programmable buttons (for gear, flaps, trim, rev. thrust, prop rpm, mixture, RW, FS Nav, etc.)? I'd use it alongside my Sidewinder Precision Pro.Hauptmann

Well, I want the same thing, so I could fly the CS727 entirely from the virtual cockpit. I have some ideas for making it myself:1. I could develop a module that makes the buttons in the virtual VC interactive. (The presentation of most of them are allready dynamic) I have an idea how I could do it based on an algorithm that I am presenting on my CAD site (http://users.pandora.be/desi-iii Programming Secrets -> How to pick entities) but I have a major drawback: I miss the experience of programming for Windows and/with DirectX. Maybe I could do it with some help.2. Building a switch box. And I found a site showing a very interesting idea: http://www.fsbus.de . Relatively easy electronics with a lot of possibilities.3. Someone has an other idea? Let hear from you, guys!hm

I use Siatek's "PC Dash2"- it gives you 32 (I think) programmable buttons, a hat switch, etc... actually maybe 64 buttons as there's a switch to change their function. Beautifully made and you create your own overlays. I think its hard to find in the US, I got mine from Europe a while back.Best,Joel