Is it possible at all to use the MOUSE for steering/pitch rather than the keyboard, as well as a mouse click for the gun... Let me know if anyone knows.

I'm looking into it too. It can be done but via lots of utilities and a couple of modifications on the game's conf.ini
Here's the link:
[url=]http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=3629[/url]
The readme that is included in that file sucks, I'm trying to overcome the omissions. If I sort it out, I'll post the results here.
UPDATE: One of the files included is a driver that can install a virtual joystick needed to use the mouse as a joystick. Unfortunately it doesn't work in Vista. I'll check it out later in my main gaming rig that has XP.

seriously if you've bought IL-2 the only way to really play it is by using a joystick, you can get one for about $20-50 that will do teh job :)
seriously trust me, once u start playing it with a joystick you'll never turn back! playing it with a keyboar n mouse will only end in tears,
I use the joystick to control the plane, keyboard to turn engines one/change view etc and mouse to look around cock pit (THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT and why you need a joystick, once you lose sight of ur enemy your toast!)

+100% agree

what about ppjoy?
it emulates an joystick with mouse
it have worked with me
buut the pilot turns his head with mouse. :(
anyone know how disable mouse view?

You can use snap views using the keys, or you can use TrackIR or FreeTrack so you can look around by just turning your head.
Plus the mouse is used to operate your gunner positions in bombers.
As to ppjoy, I use a similar program called JoyToKey to emulate a mouse by using a joystick. Makes it easier to get some of those great camera shots. With it I can configuer as many joysticks I have plugged in. Can ppjoy do the same? then you could have a mouse to view and a mouse to fly by.

Thanks for answer!!
Ppjoy works fine
but when you turn the plane, head of the pilot folows mose moviment, and is not good climb with plane while pilot look down
i want to know how disable mouse view on il-2 then i will play online!
sorre by terreble english, im brazilian

Two possibilities. one: under controls, Find
SNAP VIEW
and put a key in for
Toggle Snap/Pan View=
See if using that key lets you disengage and reengage the mouse.
If not, try this :
In the conf.ini file in your game folder is this:
[rts]
;ProcessAffinityMask=1
mouseUse=2
joyUse=1
trackIRUse=1
DisableIME=0
locale=
try changing "mouseUse=" to a '1' instead of a '2' so it instead reads like:
mouseUse=1
That might actually eliminate the need to use ppjoy to control the JS actions.
If that does not work, try replacing the 2 or 1 with either a 0 (usually meaning null and void), or leaving it completely blank so it reads either as:
mouseUse=0
or
mouseUse=
That might disable the mouse completely for IL2 game play, just hope it does not disable it for using the menus.
After that I am out of ideas.
Take a look at Freetrack ( ) or TrackIR ( [url=]http://www.naturalpoint.com/trackir/ ) for being able to view without keys or a mouse.

first:
Toggle snap/pan view does not make, affect ativated or not
second:
mouseuse=1 does not have any effect
mouseuseu=0 as you said desactivate mouse, but in menus it desactivate mouse too
third:
if i wont buy joystick, i wont buy a sensor too
fouth:
any more ideas?
anyone coud help?
fifth:
THANK FOR HELP MAN

Last idea I have is buy a joystick. Actually that was my first idea, so I guess I have gone a complete circle. Good luck.