Kneebord in VR on custom cockpit

[Raviel29]

Hi everyone,

I've been playing DCS for years, and ever since I started using the Meta Quest 3, I no longer play in 2D on a monitor. I love the immersion that VR provides, and one of the key aspects of that is using the kneeboard on my pilot's knee instead of in a floating window.

However, I’ve encountered an issue when using custom cockpits for the F-16. Whenever I switch to a modified cockpit—such as the black variant or the Polish "Raven" version—the kneeboard stops working properly. This forces me to stick with the default cockpit, which is frustrating because I’d really like to personalize my cockpit without losing the kneeboard functionality.

I’d prefer not to use the kneeboard in a floating window, as it breaks immersion for me. Has anyone found a solution to this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

[darkman222]

This is probably no solution but a thing you should try out. I know you said you dont want floating windows. I understand that. But have you tried open kneeboard in VR? https://openkneeboard.com/

Of course it floats too. But not in your vision where your wingman probably is, as you can configure its position down towards the knees where an actual kneeboard would sit.

I even use a wacom tablet and a pen to take notes on Openkneeboard. So well floating kneeboards might break immersion, but being able to write on it in VR brings so much immersion back Here is an example use in MSFS, but you get the point: 

 

[Raviel29]

8 hours ago, darkman222 said:

This is probably no solution but a thing you should try out. I know you said you dont want floating windows. I understand that. But have you tried open kneeboard in VR? https://openkneeboard.com/

Of course it floats too. But not in your vision where your wingman probably is, as you can configure its position down towards the knees where an actual kneeboard would sit.

I even use a wacom tablet and a pen to take notes on Openkneeboard. So well floating kneeboards might break immersion, but being able to write on it in VR brings so much immersion back Here is an example use in MSFS, but you get the point: 

 

This is great what you show, but there probably is no way to display standard data like on kneeboard in dcs? I use kneeboard mainly for airport data, frequencies, runway headings, mission data. This one is interactive, you can take notes, which is maybe great in boing 737, but in f-16 hmm. maybe during landings when I get data by radio. Not what I'm looking for but still great stuff thanks.

[Draken35]

14 minutes ago, Raviel29 said:

This is great what you show, but there probably is no way to display standard data like on kneeboard in dcs? I use kneeboard mainly for airport data, frequencies, runway headings, mission data. This one is interactive, you can take notes, which is maybe great in boing 737, but in f-16 hmm. maybe during landings when I get data by radio. Not what I'm looking for but still great stuff thanks.

You can create tabs in it and it can read DCS aircrafts kneeboards , briefings, mission and terrains tabs and even read PDF files in a tab (Chuck's guides!). I use Openkneeboard without a table in combination with Scratchpad.

[darkman222]

2 hours ago, Raviel29 said:

probably is no way to display standard data like on kneeboard in dcs?

What do you want it do display? I think you totally underestimate Open Kneeboard as I did. I refused to use it for too long. In its tabs you can read out almost anything.

You can bring your notes from before DCS even started to VR. When I fly with my virtual squadron I take mission notes while briefing when I am in discord, whitout DCS even running. When I fire DCS up I have the notes already in VR.

If you do more advanced stuff like 9 lines with a JTAC you will take notes of your attack planning while flying. F16 pilots will not just look at their kneeboards in real life.

null

[fagulha]

On 3/1/2025 at 2:47 PM, Raviel29 said:

Hi everyone,

I've been playing DCS for years, and ever since I started using the Meta Quest 3, I no longer play in 2D on a monitor. I love the immersion that VR provides, and one of the key aspects of that is using the kneeboard on my pilot's knee instead of in a floating window.

However, I’ve encountered an issue when using custom cockpits for the F-16. Whenever I switch to a modified cockpit—such as the black variant or the Polish "Raven" version—the kneeboard stops working properly. This forces me to stick with the default cockpit, which is frustrating because I’d really like to personalize my cockpit without losing the kneeboard functionality.

I’d prefer not to use the kneeboard in a floating window, as it breaks immersion for me. Has anyone found a solution to this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

Add this line to the description.lua of the liverie of your choice (copy exactly as is shown):

 

{"Pilot_F16_FP_MAP", 0, "mfd3", true};

 

then you can use the virtual kneeboard, very useful in VR (VR user here).