A kneeboard is an essential accessory that most pilots find they can’t do without. They range from small clipboards with thigh straps to more elaborate designs with multiple panels, as well as designs to accommodate tablets.
They’re great for organizational purposes, enabling you to easily refer to your charts, notes, and other flight-pertinent information without having to fiddle around the cockpit or in your flight bag.
You’ll commonly find they come with IFR references pockets and clips to hold maps, approach plates, and aids to calculation.
Top-Pick Combat tested, ample storage, dependable, reasonably priced...what's not to like?
New: $37.00
Originally designed for use by fighter pilots, and combat-tested in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, the Flyboys F-16 Viper, secured by a wide Velcro leg strap, is built to last, and designed with everything a pilot needs in mind. There are 7 eyelets for securing checklists, plastic checklist pages, or an in-flight guide.
There is a pocket for securing your cell phone, several pencil holders, and a plastic clipboard that is removable for writing clearances. While not necessarily designed for iPad use, the F-16 is a viable option for that purpose.
Runner Up Great for pilots who need more storage space with its three-panel design.
New: $44.97
The ASA KB-3 is a good pilot kneeboard for anyone who needs a little more storage space. Its three-panel jacket is smartly designed to accommodate all a pilot’s needs.
The left panel is large enough to hold small books, papers as well as unusually shaped items. The center panel holds the kneeboard under plastic and has a pen/pencil holder and buttonholes on either side. The right panel is designed to hold maps and makes for easy viewing thanks to its clear pocket.
Measures 6.5” x 9.5” and secured with an elastic Velcro closure.
Also Great A replacement for the very popular KB-1 with updated flight information printed directly on the kneeboard
New: $24.15
The ASA KB-1-A VFR Kneeboard is the updated version of the very popular KB-1. It has the same durable brushed aluminum construction, pencil/pen holder within the legband, Velcro fasteners, and comfortable 15” wide elastic legband.
The difference is that it contains updated information, including VFR ceiling, visibility, and cloud clearance, CFR cruising altitudes, communication frequencies, pilot weather report sequence, light gun signal key, and a crosswind component graph.
Best Pilot Kneeboards for iPad Mini/Small tablets
Top Pick: MyGoFlight Folio C Universal iPad Mini Kneeboard Case
Best for iPad Mini/Small Tablets Expensive but built to last, and designed with every thing a pilot could ever need from a kneeboard
Check Amazon for Pricing
The Mygoflight Folio C Pilot Kneeboard doesn’t come cheap but it’s a great kneeboard for pilots looking for the best of the best and is suitable for more than just cockpit use.
You can use it as a kneeboard or lapboard, it is made of genuine leather for a luxurious feel, and it allows for a great deal of preciseness due to its rotating cradle that you can stop and lock in place every 5 degrees.
Other features include a built-in stand with four rubber pads on the rails so the case can securely sit on a table or desk, and a removable leg so the Folio C can be used as an everyday case for your tablet.
It is also smartly designed so all of the ports and controls remains accessible so your tablet can be charged, synced, and controlled when it is in its case
Runner-Up Simple yet versatile. Can be used with a very wide range of tablets.
New: $34.84
Simplicity really is the name of the game with the MyClipKneeboard– yet it is also very versatile. It can be used with practically all iPads and tablets – just as long as the thickness is .45 inches or less. You can also use it with all smartphones that are at least 3 inches in width.
If you think you will change tablets in the future and don’t want your kneeboard to become nothing more than a paperweight, the MyClipKneeboard is the right choice.
Best for iPad/Large Tablets A kneeboard made from eco-friendly leather with plenty of storage space
Check Amazon for Pricing
Suitable for iPads and all tablets ranging from 9” to 10.5” in size, the DESiGN 4 PILOTS Kneeboard has everything a pilot needs.
It is made out of eco-friendly leather with the clipboard on top, 2 lateral elastic penholders (left & right), and two non-slip cushions on the bottom side for better fit and stability. Inside you will find a soft microfiber fabric for protection.
Other features include a Credit card sized compartment, a wide velcro thigh-strap, anti-slip pads, and openings to dissipate heat.
Runner-Up Smartly designed for tilted viewing and with a power port that is accessible with the cover closed
Check Amazon for Pricing
ASA has long been a trusted name in aviation, so when pilots are looking for a dependable kneeboard, ASA is naturally one of the first ports of call. The ASA Ipad Air Kneeboard will fit the Air, Air 2, and all similarly sized iPads/tablets.
Made from eco-friendly leather and with a wide leg strap to hold the kneeboard in place, there is also a holding clip to securely place a notepad and other documents.
For added protection the kneeboard is covered in a soft microfiber cloth, the easel allows for tilted viewing, and the power port is smartly designed to be accessible with the cover closed.
How We Picked the Best Pilot Kneeboards
Tablet Compatibility
The most important feature to consider is the compatibility/size of the kneeboard.
If you buy a pilot kneeboard designed to be used with smaller tablets like an iPad Mini, yet you have an iPad, it won’t be much use.
Storage Space
Consider how much storage space you need.
Do you need a kneeboard with various compartments that can store something as large as a book, or do you just need somewhere to store a pencil and a few sheets of paper in the cockpit?
Price
Price is of course something worth considering.
While a $15 kneeboard for pilots will suffice for some, others with larger budgets will be rewarded with better construction, more storage space, and more features.
Design
A foldable kneeboard can maximize storage space and provide more versatility, while one that rotates allows for both profile and landscape use.
Other design elements to consider include the number and size of compartments and construction material.
Additionally, you should know that we have made our recommendations based on thousands of owner reviews, and a combination of testing and firsthand experience.
Pilot Kneeboards FAQ
Is there a difference between kneeboards designed for airplanes and helicopters?
There is no difference between kneeboards designed for airplanes and helicopters, which is why you find manufacturers stating that their kneeboard can be used in any type of aircraft.
What happens if the strap on your kneeboard breaks?
It can be frustrating when the strap breaks. First, if you purchase any of the kneeboards we recommended this will be an unlikely occurrence. If it does happen, though, you can usually purchase a replacement strap for a fraction of the price of the kneeboard itself.
Do I Really Need to Buy a Pilot Kneeboard?
No pilot should be without a kneeboard, especially when you consider how inexpensive they are. Whether you’re a paper or tablet pilot, there is a kneeboard for you.
It is perhaps pilots who still primarily use paper who will benefit the most from a kneeboard. Your hands are freed from flying as you no longer have to fumble around the cockpit and your flight bag looking for the information you need. Any pilot knows how you will need to refer to certain information and certain points in the flight, so you can use the kneeboard to store the papers in the correct order too.
There is an ever-increasing number of pilots in this day and age who turn to iPads to meet their organizational needs. The best pilot kneeboards designed for tablets ensure that your expensive device can be properly positioned and protected while also providing storage space.
Many pilot kneeboards contain important information printed directly on them too, like charts and IFR references that student pilots will in particular appreciate. All also provide a flat surface so you can easily jot things down when you need to like filling in your pilot logbook.
Either way, a pilot needs to stay organized during flight and a kneeboard provides a simple, inexpensive way to help you do this.
Other Pilot Kneeboards We Looked At
We looked at several other kneeboards for pilots. Even though they didn’t make our best of list, they’re good alternatives and worth checking out.
If you’re looking for a reversible kneeboard for pilots there is no better option than this one from Flyboys. A great choice if you’re flying in a confined cockpit and need more versatility.
The iPad/large tablet version of the Mygoflight Folio C with all the same features as its smaller brother that has made it a firm favorite with pilots worldwide.
Helen Krasner holds a PPL(A), with 15 years experience flying fixed-wing aircraft; a PPL(H), with 13 years experience flying helicopters; and a CPL(H), Helicopter Instructor Rating, with 12 years working as a helicopter instructor.
Helen is an accomplished aviation writer with 12 years of experience, having authored several books and published numerous articles while also serving as the Editor of the BWPA (British Women Pilots Association) newsletter, with her excellent work having been recognized with her nomination of the “Aviation Journalist of the Year” award.
Helen has won the “Dawn to Dusk” International Flying Competition, along with the best all-female competitors, three times with her copilot.
