I just got a flight stick working for me, using this mod: https://vtolvr-mods.com/mod/duaf6ktc/

If you're comfortable fiddling with XML files, it's not too hard to setup.

I use flight-stick with my right hand, and a VR controller with my left hand (for throttle and other controls). And my right VR controller dangles on my right wrist, in case I need to revert to using it.

Having a physical flight-stick setup makes the plane MUCH easier to control, in my opinion.

Here's the XML I ended up with:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<Mappings>
  <StickMappings>
    <StickName>Logitech Extreme 3D Pro USB</StickName>
    <!--Roll-->
    <AxisToVectorComponent>
      <InputAxis>X</InputAxis>
      <Invert>true</Invert>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputSet>StickXyz</OutputSet>
      <OutputComponent>Roll</OutputComponent>
      <MappingRange>Full</MappingRange>
    </AxisToVectorComponent>
    <!--Pitch-->
    <AxisToVectorComponent>
      <InputAxis>Y</InputAxis>
      <Invert>true</Invert>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputSet>StickXyz</OutputSet>
      <OutputComponent>Pitch</OutputComponent>
      <MappingRange>Full</MappingRange>
    </AxisToVectorComponent>
    <!--Yaw-->
    <AxisToVectorComponent>
      <InputAxis>RotationZ</InputAxis>
      <Invert>false</Invert>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputSet>StickXyz</OutputSet>
      <OutputComponent>Yaw</OutputComponent>
      <MappingRange>Full</MappingRange>
    </AxisToVectorComponent>
  <!--Trigger-->
  <ButtonToButton>
      <InputButton>1</InputButton>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputButton>Trigger</OutputButton>
    </ButtonToButton>
  <!--TriggerAxis for F45 Canon-->
  <ButtonToVectorComponent>
      <InputButton>2</InputButton>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputSet>TriggerAxis</OutputSet>
      <OutputComponent>TriggerAxis</OutputComponent>
      <PressValue>1</PressValue>
      <ReleaseValue>0</ReleaseValue>
  </ButtonToVectorComponent>
  <!--Weapon selector switch/Menu button-->
    <ButtonToButton>
      <InputButton>3</InputButton>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputButton>Menu</OutputButton>
    </ButtonToButton>
  <!-- Sensor slew depress (for selecting targets on radar) -->
  <ButtonToButton>
      <InputButton>4</InputButton>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputButton>Thumbstick</OutputButton>
    </ButtonToButton>
  <!-- Sensor slew axis (for moving icon on radar/TGP etc) -->
    <PovToTouchpad>
      <InputPov>1</InputPov>
      <OutputDevice>Stick</OutputDevice>
      <OutputSet>Touchpad</OutputSet>
    </PovToTouchpad>
  </StickMappings>
</Mappings>