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Kneeboards


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What types of kneeboards do you all use? Big, small, tri fold, bi fold, etc.

 

I've used two different kneeboards since I started flying, the Flyboys kneeboard (http://www.flyboys.com/fb1316.html) which I got when I started flying in the R22, and a "W2" kneeboard from the Hangar (http://thehangar.com/aviation-supplies/kneeboards/w-2.html) which I got when I started Primary in the TH-67. Both are compact kneeboards, and worked great in the smaller helicopters. The Flyboys pretty much only has a clipboard and eyelets for checklist page/chart holders. It had no pocket for my E6B or anything else. Also, the leg strap was elestic with a velcro enclose which streched out and the velcro started sticking less. I ditched it for the "W2" when I started flying the TH67. It was much better. It had spot for my E6B, and had about 5 flip pages for whatever I wanted to stick in them along with a clipboard. The only problem was that the flip pages are really small. Anything I want to put on it, I have to shrink. That's not a big deal if I have time to shrink it (and possibly laminate it since ink sticks to the flip page plastic). It also has a removable velcro checklist holder on one side. And, the leg strap is elastic with a clip so I don't have to worry about the velcro wearing out.

 

Now that I'm flying the UH-60 my IP suggested getting a bigger kneeboard. Especially since we are getting mission packets with multiple pages (frequency cards, IIMC procedures, Airport Diagrams, Route Cards, etc), and I can't shrink them. So, what do you think? Either way I probably want to get a new kneeboard, because mine slides down my leg and I have to keep adjusting it during the flight. The worst is when I can't take my hand off the controls to adjust it, for example during boost off operations. I've flown with another guy who had a kneeboard that completely takes care of that problem because it includes a belt strap as well, but I don't know if it's overkill or not. It seems like a pretty nice kneeboard, but it's also a little bit pricey. Check it out here -> http://www.fightandflight.com/index.php/aviation/mkiii-mod2-tactical-kneeboard-554.html

 

It has a portion that straps to your leg with 2 straps as well as a belt strap (to keep it from moving down your leg) with velcro on the top of it. The kneeboard is actually separate and the back of the kneeboard has velcro, so you can just pull the kneeboard off without worrying about undoing the strap. Or for $15 less there's a version that has both leg straps and a belt strap but the actual kneeboard portion is not velcro removable.

 

Opinions?

 

 

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I say 'Less is more' so I like a small and simple kneeboard. In combat I try to memorize everything beforehand so I don't have to be inside reading when the action's outside.

 

Lift units like big mission packets though, so you may want to look for something more ornate.

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I still cannot find a kneeboard that I really like.

 

Me neither, although the mini tri-fold is close, it's still to bulky for my use (a couple numbers per leg).

I use a hard back notepad wallet with a "Third Hand" chart clip on the right leg and carry an elastic strap with a transparent section for plates for the left leg.

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You know what happened when I got a tri-fold? I had a bunch of crap that I didn't need and never used, and a bunch of extra pockets not doing anything. Those big kneeboards are just a scam for the new guys before they realize how useless they really are.

 

Keep the flyboys. Get some of those "checklist sleeves" or whatever they're called, and the plastic checklist rings (far better than the metal binder rings in my opinion). This will let you put your "permanent" things off to the left (GPS waypoint card for your unit, standard freq card, Emer GPS approach plate, etc).

 

What I then did was put a small notepad under the clip, and can put one or two smaller, common sheets under that (PPC most often). Your packet can go on top.

 

Figure out how to adjust/where to place your kneeboard so it doesn't slide down your leg. The belt loop is ridiculous. Just saying.

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Not a huge fan of the kneeboard, I stopped using them about 3 years ago.

 

Any reference material I put on the outside of my checklist

 

I hang all the rest of my sh*t off the pedal adjust knob, I tape up my packets and put it under my leg.

 

If I were to use one, it would be very simple and small.

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Unless the Flyboys kneeboard has changed significantly... there is definitely a pocket the fits the issued E6B perfectly, right behind the pencil holders. Thats the only kneeboard I've worn for better than two years now - I added some velcro to the back of the clipboard and bought a kitchen timer and mount for when I need it.

 

Truly, most of the time I just throw it up on the dash and pull it down anytime I need to write something. I throw the Wx brief and PPC underneath the pad of paper.

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Unless the Flyboys kneeboard has changed significantly... there is definitely a pocket the fits the issued E6B perfectly, right behind the pencil holders.

Oh yeah, you're right. I just pulled mine out to start using it again, and I guess there is a spot for my E6B. Ooops. My biggest problem with it was that the elastic stretched out and I couldn't get a good fit on my leg. I had my wife sew it shorter, so not it works.

 

I think I'll just stick with that one. I guess I forget that I'm not flying single pilot in a small aircraft anymore, so I don't need everything right on my leg for quick reference while I'm flying. Between my checklist, center console, and pubs bag beside my seat, I have a lot of room for stuff NOT on my leg! lol

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The Navy issues us the Wings 9G kneeboard in flight training. I'm a big fan. Pretty low profile, adjustable, and works for righties of lefties. There are webbing points on the left and right edges you can attach checklist sleeves to, plus a top clip to hold mission specific cards or a notepad, and a clear strap to hold down things in the windy/dusty/TERF environments.

 

For general ass/trash flights or stuff around the boat, I have a small legal pad on there to take notes should the need occur (random boat has this freq, tacan channel, call sign, etc). For more mission specific flights, we make smartpacks that are letter size paper cut in half. Oh, and I have an approach plate strap on the rare occasion I do an all IFR flight and need to use those.

 

It's a pretty good piece of kit. One of the few things the Navy gets correct as far as issued gear.

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I used to use the trifold kneeboard but I kept getting the flaps caught on the cyclic which made for an interesting situation especially when flying at night and I couldn't figure out why my cyclic was stuck. Now I use the flip up kind but it's annoying as well because when I flip it up it gets in the way of the MPD I'm trying to use.

 

I have yet to find a kneeboard that I like. Plus no matter how many pens I bring I always manage to lose every single one of them in the cockpit when I stick them in my kneeboard.

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  • 4 months later...
  • 8 months later...

Sorry to bring this forum back to life... Finally starting (we'll see when the day actually comes) common core on Jan 22!! Besides a kneeboard (probably will just pick up the flyboys one), is there any other gear I should pick up before I start??

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http://www.amazon.com/Flyboys-Pilot-Kneeboard-IFR-VFR/dp/B00BJ5RFI0/ref=pd_sim_sbs_misc_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1WC8JMKQK7M9FHNG4H0W

 

 

Ive had one of these for several years. It has some little pockets.. places to put pens. Rings for charts.... and it has a clear plastic strap to hold everything down.

 

 

I've bought 3. This is my favorite.

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