I use only the keyboard for Wing Commanders 1-4(call me crazy), using the numpad for flight controls and the other keys for tertiary commands. Is there a way to do this for TIE Fighter? Only in certain versions? Preferably 98. Thanks all.

You can play with keyboard&mouse in 1994 version. Not sure about '95. The '98 version however checks for joystick at launch. If a joystick is not detected it will refuse to run. So you probably need a joystick or find a way to cheat the game engine. Maybe try or read [url=https://www.gog.com/forum/star_wars_tie_fighter_special_edition/i_wanted_to_play_the_1998_version_with_the_mouse_so_i_wrote_a_program]this thread

I remember back in the days trying to play the first X-Wing just with the keyboard... I sucked very bad at it, could not catch a TIE on his six for the life of me, and then i realized that the turn rate with the cursor keys was capped at a much slower speed than the analog rate with the mouse/joystick.

So, i would say, don't even try... if you really have to go that way, use at least a mouse and some virtual device software, like suggested above