For traveling, I sometimes used a PC gamepad, it can be used for manouvering, a bit like with RC planes. However, it is not very hot with switches control. You have to select which hat positions you model (with advanced dx+modifier key programming you could do more, but that is a lot of work) And the throttle is difficult to use, unless you break one of the hat springs. It is possible to have additive/subtractive throttle, but then you have to have some extra programs to grab the throttle position, and turn it into keyboard inputs.
In the end, I carry a lighter, but real, joystick for travels. It fits in a suitcase, and doesn’t weight much. For “backpacking” it would be too big.
The keyboard setup above sounds in fact quite interesting. I may check it out with the laptop.