A Wing Of Flighters

[richardandtracy]

What's the definition of a "Flighter"?

I've taken it at the widest definition, that of a stainless steel barrel & cap. If my memory still serves me, the only models actually called 'Flighter' by Parker were the P51 'Flighter' and the P61 'Jet Flighter'.

 

Thank you all for your comments. I rather feel I haven't done the pens justice, being a bit brief on each, but I think the review works reasonably well as a comparison.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[seymour]

Richard

 

Thanks for a fascinating review. I have a Parker 75 flighter, which I can recommend highly. You should add one to your collection.

 

With regard to your remarks about modern Parkers, I also have a Parker 51 special, the 2002 model, and find that it only writes well on good quality paper. I don't see myself as a nib expert and would be grateful for a non-technical solution

 

Chaim

[Xing]

What's the definition of a "Flighter"?

I've taken it at the widest definition, that of a stainless steel barrel & cap. If my memory still serves me, the only models actually called 'Flighter' by Parker were the P51 'Flighter' and the P61 'Jet Flighter'.

 

Thank you all for your comments. I rather feel I haven't done the pens justice, being a bit brief on each, but I think the review works reasonably well as a comparison.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

 

The 1978 Parker Catalogs (obtained via PAC) shows the 25, 45, 75, and 180 all had models that were designated as Flighters. I so I don't think the term is as restrictive as you make it out to be. I really admire your flight collection though. Even though I'm relatively new at this, I'm current growing a budding flighter collection myself. (And as far as my flighters are concerned, I also use the loose definition, since it is the aesthetics that I'm after.)

[richardandtracy]

Thanks for that, always willing to learn, and I shall extend my mental definition of a Flighter.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[InkyCarl]

I have the rollerball version of the Latitude. I got 3 different colors for about $20 each from some seller who must have grabbed a pile from a warehouse sale. For $20 they are nice, but I think the MSRP is supposed to be $70, and for that much they look slightly cheesy (a beautiful Sonnet is only $85). The black one has a small greenish color when viewed in the wrong light, and the rings on the cap are poorly machined and not really gold but just bare tarnished brass.

[MSA]

Flighters in my collection:

 

(Parker)

15

21

25

45

50

61

75

95

180

Sonnet

Vector

 

(Other Stainless Steel Flighter look alikes)

Hero 100

Hero 850

Shaeffer Targa

Shaeffer No Nonsense

Waterman Hemisphere

[richardandtracy]

Wee, that's quite a list, and you have nine types I've never even tried - The P15, P50, P75, P95, P180, and all the non Parkers except the Targa. I'm somewhat envious.

 

Regards,

 

Richard.

[WriterJP]

The Sonnet you have included in your pictures is absolutely stunning. I love the graphite color of the body. Is that particular pen still available for purchase by Parker? I didn't know the Sonnet was available in that finish.

[Spector]

very nice collection!

[Flounder]

Nice comparitive review. Is there nothing to be said for nibs designed to be smooth on garbage office paper, post it notes, wall calendars and the back of hands? There's a reason my Frontier (which seems to be the only one that left the factory with an immortal cap) gets more use than my Targa 1001 or 45 flighter!

[WontonST]

Great review and nice pens! Thoroughly enjoyed reading the review.

[lsmith42]

Thanks for this great comparison! I would love to get a Parker "51" Flighter if opportunity ever came my way.

 

Regards,

777

Keep your eyes open. They show up, but not often.

 

I had to spend the day with my 1951 "51" Flighter today in honor of this thread. Then wrote a real letter just for the fun of it!

[MSA]

Added two more to the collection since....Frontier and Classic (similar to 180). Waiting for my Urban from Greece.

 

Will take a picture of all of them together for you guys. Also, communicated with a member (Chris Olsen) who has a complete Parker collection in the US...i.e. every flighter made by parker... Now thats something.

[breaker]

excellent review!

[jslallar]

Flighters in my collection:

 

(Parker)

15

21

25

45

50

61

75

95

180

Sonnet

Vector

 

(Other Stainless Steel Flighter look alikes)

Hero 100

Hero 850

Shaeffer Targa

Shaeffer No Nonsense

Waterman Hemisphere

 

 

I dont collect Fighter's like you do MSA, but I have the following in my collectioin:

1. 15 / Jotter
2. Frontiers x 2
3. 45s x 4
4. IM Gunmetal finish so that does not count
5. Urban
6. 21

others:

 

 

1. Waterman Hemisphere
2. Waterman Laureat
3. Jinhao no name

and Richard, an excellent review, a wealth of useful info for reference.

 

 

Edited August 22, 2011 by jslallar

[Anne-Sophie]

It is such a wonderful review, it should be pinned.

 

It is a Flighter's reference.

 

Personnaly, I am in love with Parker 75's.

 

Before the pen buying moratorium, I got myself a Studio Flighter and a blue one.

 

Come to think of it, my pens are either Flighter/Stainless Steel style or colorful acrylics in girly colors.

[bk123]

Highly informative review, Thank you.

[MSA]

Some new flighers added to my collection:

 

51

65

Arrow

Urban

Frontier

Jotter

 

Missing....105, 35.

 

Regards

[Mike 59]

Bought my second Frontier Flighter SS in J.Lewis, in the 'red tag' sale, for £12,(August '11.) Only fault I could find was a slight rough edge around both the open end of the cap and also the open end of the barrel. A few minutes work by turning the parts on a piece of rough cardboard, and it took the rough edge away. Shouldn't have to do the work for them, but I know it's a basically a good design, and probably should cost more. After I used all the Quink in the supplied cartrdge, I filled it with black Sheaffer 'Skrip', and it writes as well as anything I've used.

[Eduardo]

Flighters in my collection

 

Parker Classic Flighter GT

Parker 51 Mk III Flighter CT

Platinum PE-500

Reform Basic

Hero 5020

 

future plans:

 

Pelikan Signum P560

Sheaffer Targa 1001

Parker 61 Jet Flighter GT

Parker 51 Mk I Flighter GT

Parker 105