Kneeboards
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2000
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 206
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From: Asia Pacific.
Kneeboards
Allo again Prunesters...
Does anybody know where to get hold of a decent kneeboard that isn't the size of a card table? I no longer have my custom made jobbie, and woud like to find a replacement. I used to work with someone that had a very small bi or tri fold kneeboard (can't remember exactly), and it was roughly 5x7 inches folded up.
I have done a pretty exhaustive search on the web, and all I can find are those ridiculously huge versions that can do everything including cure cancer...
Anybody have any ideas?
Does anybody know where to get hold of a decent kneeboard that isn't the size of a card table? I no longer have my custom made jobbie, and woud like to find a replacement. I used to work with someone that had a very small bi or tri fold kneeboard (can't remember exactly), and it was roughly 5x7 inches folded up.
I have done a pretty exhaustive search on the web, and all I can find are those ridiculously huge versions that can do everything including cure cancer...
Anybody have any ideas?
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 301
Likes: 16
From: Australia.
I use the $35 one from Skylines, its a piece of aluminium with a clip on top and an elastic strap. Not too big at all, and does me just fine.
Whoever thought they should be a mobile office with 48 pockets maybe sees the kneeboard for more than what it really is.....just something to write on and read from.
Whoever thought they should be a mobile office with 48 pockets maybe sees the kneeboard for more than what it really is.....just something to write on and read from.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
From: Dansaff
The better kneeboards are US made, if you follow these links you may get one.
My suggestion is to find someone who is doing a military course there and get one brought back, unless the postage is cheap!
http://flywings.com/
http://www.wings-aviation.com/
My suggestion is to find someone who is doing a military course there and get one brought back, unless the postage is cheap!
http://flywings.com/
http://www.wings-aviation.com/
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Wings in Daleville, Alabama make a very nice kneeboard....comes in all sorts of sizes and layouts.....send them a copy of your wings and they will embroider your name and wings on the thing for you at some nominal cost. I use the trifold cordura model....and love it. Nice big fat elastic band with velcro for holding the thing to your wobbling knee....enough pockets but still small enough to be comfy.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Sporty's Pilot Shop has them, Sporty's Trifold Kneeboard US$32.50 !!!! Everything Sporty's has is expensive.
I made my own from a fluorescent yellow (so I can see it & remember to take it out of the aircraft) plastic clipboard I got at WalMart & cut down to size, & some elastic & Fastex buckles. The clipboards should be available at office supply stores. Works great, less expensive. I added a clip to hold a pen, which was the most expensive part of the whole thing.
I made my own from a fluorescent yellow (so I can see it & remember to take it out of the aircraft) plastic clipboard I got at WalMart & cut down to size, & some elastic & Fastex buckles. The clipboards should be available at office supply stores. Works great, less expensive. I added a clip to hold a pen, which was the most expensive part of the whole thing.
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 600
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From: In the Haven of Peace
Marvin Golden Aviation discount sales (www.marvgolden.com) do a reasonable selection of kneeboards. I've been using the ASA tri-fold kneeboard (US$ 26.95) for a while and it folds up quite neatly and is reasonably made nfor the price.
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: UK
I'm left handed and what always amazes me is how you right handed geezers manage to use a board at all. Left handed means I only have to let go of the collective to use the board, but right handed means you have to let go of the cyclic - how do you do that ????
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Well, usually I write while my copilot flies, or vice versa. 
However, it's completely feasible to write & fly, especially in a turbine. One of the first things I learned in the TH55 was to fly with my knees, while lighting a cigarette with gopher matches, which required the use of both hands. If I need to fly & write, I either fly with my left hand or with my knees, while I write, but a decent AFCS makes it easier. I keep my kneeboard on my left leg anyway, so it's not under my arm while I'm flying with my arm on my right knee/thigh.
However, it's completely feasible to write & fly, especially in a turbine. One of the first things I learned in the TH55 was to fly with my knees, while lighting a cigarette with gopher matches, which required the use of both hands. If I need to fly & write, I either fly with my left hand or with my knees, while I write, but a decent AFCS makes it easier. I keep my kneeboard on my left leg anyway, so it's not under my arm while I'm flying with my arm on my right knee/thigh.
Gatvol
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1
From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Pilot Kneeboards
Some of you may even use these things. The best one I have found and its the same one, same model I have used for many years can be located on www.Sportys.com Its a lighted kneeboard that is originally manufactured for the military. Obviously Sportys and I guess others buy them for resale.
They work very good.
One little problem that plagues them is that you can lose the cap for the battery compartment, thus a big problem. Where do you find a replacement cap. I looked all over and folks just seem to say. We just sell the whole thing.
So after a search on the internet for the manufacturer, I gave them a call and explained the problem. They said not to worry and will mail me a couple caps.
Thought that was kind of neat. So if any of you have these kneeboards and need some help. They are manufactered by
Precision Polymer MFG in Kalamazoo MI and can be contacted at
269-344-2044.
Another Product that gets my vote for good support.
They work very good.
One little problem that plagues them is that you can lose the cap for the battery compartment, thus a big problem. Where do you find a replacement cap. I looked all over and folks just seem to say. We just sell the whole thing.
So after a search on the internet for the manufacturer, I gave them a call and explained the problem. They said not to worry and will mail me a couple caps.
Thought that was kind of neat. So if any of you have these kneeboards and need some help. They are manufactered by
Precision Polymer MFG in Kalamazoo MI and can be contacted at
269-344-2044.
Another Product that gets my vote for good support.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 394
Likes: 2
From: Aus, Europe & everywhere in between
Kneeboards
An absolute necessity for single pilot ops. Keeps everything nice and handy.
To make it easier, put it on your left leg so it doesn't interfere with your "cyclic arm".
An absolute necessity for single pilot ops. Keeps everything nice and handy.
To make it easier, put it on your left leg so it doesn't interfere with your "cyclic arm".
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Arab, Alabama
Fly Apart Kneeboards ??
How many of you ever lost critical paper work during flight because a kneeboard suddenly came unstrapped and scattered in the floor ? and have they ever interfeared with your collective or cyclic movement ?
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 51
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From: Western Oz
"How much paperwork does it take to interfere with the collective"
The school I work at creates so much paperwork for dispatching, checking in a flight and student progress that it interferes with the collective ever being raised.
The school I work at creates so much paperwork for dispatching, checking in a flight and student progress that it interferes with the collective ever being raised.
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Ireland
Yep...
I have one of those ultimate kneeboards with the upright binder rings, I also recently did an IR in a R22. That stupid T-bar kept hitting the rings . OK, I know it's a case of small helo, big kneeboard, but seriously, it nearly got dropped with or without hazard to people or property below!
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 0
From: Over here
I don't keep much on the kneeboard, even for a long IFR trip. All I want is my flight plan, my clearance, and some note paper. I put the approach plate there for the approach, in some aircraft, but that's about all. Company paperwork and everything else goes somewhere else. I have seen kneeboards interfere with the controls temporarily, but it's quickly sorted out, by yelling "Get your damned kneeboard out of the way!!!". IMO, using large kneeboards and keeping the kitchen sink on them is a mistake, and causes trouble in the long run. I don't recall flying with any experienced IFR pilots who used large kneeboards, and many don't use one at all.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 299
Likes: 9
From: uk
Talking about kneeboards reminded me of this accident in the USA:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...93FA369&rpt=fa
Greetings
Finalchecksplease
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/GenPDF.asp?...93FA369&rpt=fa
Greetings
Finalchecksplease
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 128
Likes: 0
From: Wales
Here's another accident almost directly linked:
http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resou...CHZ%201-06.pdf
Guy comes lands at an airfield in an R22, while hover taxiing (with wind from the left), needs to move the cyclic to the left. Cyclic catches under his kneeboard attachment strap, heli starts drifting right. He tries to free the cyclic but in doing so lifts his foot off the left pedal. Heli rapidly yaws right, right skid contacts the ground, and the heli rolls over.
I've personally never lost paperwork in the air, nor has my kneeboard come undone. In the 22s though I find kneeboards a real pain in the backside. There just isn't the room for them, it DOES interfere with the cyclic. I try to twist it round so that a similar accident never occurs to me, but I still don't like wearing it.
Personally I'm considering getting some kind of flightsuit, perhaps one of the transair ones. Might look a **** and I've no doubt I'll get the piss taken by some - being PPL not mil - but those clear plastic windows on the knees look a far better idea.
ps - I've never lost paperwork in flight. Please tell me i'm not the only one though who's come in and landed with lots of people watching - nice landing, shut down - then open the door and have a cascade of maps, papers etc fall out all over the floor. Kinda loses the cool image when you spend the next 30 seconds chasing papers round the airfield
http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resou...CHZ%201-06.pdf
Guy comes lands at an airfield in an R22, while hover taxiing (with wind from the left), needs to move the cyclic to the left. Cyclic catches under his kneeboard attachment strap, heli starts drifting right. He tries to free the cyclic but in doing so lifts his foot off the left pedal. Heli rapidly yaws right, right skid contacts the ground, and the heli rolls over.
I've personally never lost paperwork in the air, nor has my kneeboard come undone. In the 22s though I find kneeboards a real pain in the backside. There just isn't the room for them, it DOES interfere with the cyclic. I try to twist it round so that a similar accident never occurs to me, but I still don't like wearing it.
Personally I'm considering getting some kind of flightsuit, perhaps one of the transair ones. Might look a **** and I've no doubt I'll get the piss taken by some - being PPL not mil - but those clear plastic windows on the knees look a far better idea.
ps - I've never lost paperwork in flight. Please tell me i'm not the only one though who's come in and landed with lots of people watching - nice landing, shut down - then open the door and have a cascade of maps, papers etc fall out all over the floor. Kinda loses the cool image when you spend the next 30 seconds chasing papers round the airfield