Flying with a fountain pen...

[PaulK]

I can't vote because I don't pay much attention to their fill level. I keep the nibs pointing up, when I remember to, during take off and landing. I haven't had a problem.

Same! Never every had a problem with any of my (modern) pens. Haven't tried it with any vintage pens.

[autophile]

For the physics: an airliner or light aircraft traveling at normal cruise altitudes will have a cabin pressure of about 8000 feet, which is maybe 25% less pressure than sea level atmospheric pressure. That means that any air in your fountain pen is going to expand about 25% in volume during climb to altitude.

Expands by 33% PV = nRT, bay-bee!

 

--Rob

[BillTheEditor]

The main hazard with traveling with FPs now is that you can't take your ink with you easily because of the liquids restrictions, unless you enter the checked baggage lottery. (My luggage seems to frequently get lost on commercial flights.)

See my solution on the first page of this thread. C/C pen in carry-on, with one unpierced cartridge inside the barrel. No bottled ink. Spare cartridges go in checked luggage. If they get picky at Security, throw away the unpierced cartridge, it's the liquid that 's the "problem" not the pen. Problem solved.

 

In fact, you don't have to carry the spare cartridges in your checked luggage, as I suggested there, if you are concerned about losing them (I'd be more concerned about losing my skivvies, personally, but we each have our priorities). You can put two or three cartridges in your trouser pockers. When you empty your change, etc. into the bucket going through the entry screening, leave the cartridges in your pockets. They will not set off the alarms -- no metal, nothing to detect, so small that they should not be visible. Or if that makes you nervous, just put the two or three cartridges into the requisite one quart baggie. You are perfectly legal and perfectly in your rights to carry f.p. ink cartridges aboard. They might (needlessly) get upset if you tried to bring a whole pack into the cabin, but on the average trip, you are not going to need that many.

[handlebar]

I always take a ballpoint with me for journals when on vacation and then transfer the writings to my permanant journal by FP.Not too much of a risk taker here

 

JD

[D.R.Mabuse]

Being the super-cautious type, I always drain them fully and even clean them before transport. I also close my eyes until we touch down again.

 

NOt so good when I'm the pilot...

Edited January 8, 2007 by D.R.Mabuse

[abn_pen]

Just flew to Orlando with my Sheaffer Snorkel without any events. I did keep the pen tip up as much as possible. I even wrote in my journal during the flight. There was no overdryness or overwetness of the nib. It just worked as usual.

 

I should note that I already live at 4500 ft so the pressure change that my pen saw was nothing like eastern folk see.

Edited January 31, 2007 by abn_pen

[Blacksheep95]

Being the super-cautious type, I always drain them fully and even clean them before transport. I also close my eyes until we touch down again.

 

NOt so good when I'm the pilot...

[Richard F]

Air pressure on airplanes seems rather stable nowadays. I've never had a problem with leakage even when the pen isn't filled completely.

[french22]

I just come back from 2x2 hours trip in plane : not a single problem !!

 

- no leaks

- I was able to use my pens (VacFill + Touchdown) during flight without any noticeable change

[npcole]

Maybe I've been lucky, but I've frequently travelled with pens, without worrying too much about whether they are full or empty, and I've never had a problem.

 

Security have not complained (touch wood) and (again touch wood) I've found that fountain pens write perfectly in the air. And, of course, you can use them when electronic equipment is banned. As for leaks, well - I often have a bit of ink in the cap if a pen has been in a bag and shaken around, but I've never noticed it to be any worse when flying.

 

Put the pens in a zip-lock bag at security and put them through the machine. If you're still worried, keep them in the bag when not using them during the flight. Because, well, why take the risk? :-)

Edited January 31, 2007 by npcole

[psfred]

No problems with a Parker 51 Demi (Aerometric) nor a 21 Super. No other experiences to report, but both were fine on the last trip (Christmas). Both full.

 

Only one came back -- my niece got the Demi as a Christmas present.

 

Peter

[sobriquet]

I'm hopping on a plane for Seattle on Monday, and you all now have me interested enough to bring a pen with me.

 

I assume no one has had security troubles either? I'd be pretty upset if TSA said I couldn't take my m800 or 51 on the plane.

The day security at airports bans travels with pens because they can be used as a penetration weapon will be the day I, a pacifist by heart and nature, actually turn against the system and fight it to the bitter end. When the instruments of peace are labelled as instruments of violence is the limit for me.

[monrof]

Very simple--when not writing, I keep my pens upright, with the nib pointing upwards. They only leak if they are kept horizontal, or pointing downwards.

[SilentK]

I have flown with my Safari roughly a month ago with the converter about 70% full. No problems what so ever. During the first 15 minutes of the flight it was sitting horizontal in my front jeans pocket, after that I decided to take a risk and start writing with it. I wrote for the remainder of the flight with no hiccups. She wrote maybe a tad on the wet side, and had a little more nib creep than usual, but nothing dramatic. Granted it was a relatively short flight (Hour and a half), but I feel confident enough to do it again without hesitation. But next time i will keep it nib up just in case. :embarrassed_smile:

[French]

The only modern pen I've had issue with during flight has been the Pilot Myu 90 (filled with a Pilot cartridge. None of my other modern pens have leaked, no matter what their ink level has been. I have had some leaks with vintage lever fillers, as I think no matter the level of ink, as the cabin pressurizes, I believe the sac gets compressed (it makes sense to me, but don't know if it is true). I will only fly with empty lever fill pens.

 

French

[BamaPen]

My answer to the poll at the start of this topic is "None of the Above." I have taken several pens with me on several flights lately - in a ziploc bag in my carry-on luggage - without particular regard for nib orientation or state of fill. My pens have included new (OHTO Tasche, Pilot 78G) and old (Parker 51). Only the Parker has leaked, and even it has not leaked every flight. I have used the OHTO at altitude with no problems.

 

Tonight I was reading Richard Binder's site where he explains how the Parker Aerometric fill system works, and in his diagram, he notes a small hole at the end of the barrel that allows pressure to equalize inside the barrel to avoid leaks due to temperature changes,etc. Guess what, I had never even realized that there was a hole there and when I checked, it was completely clogged up. I've used a small straight pen to clean it out, and I'll bet now that even the Parker won't leak on the next flight.

 

It will be about a month until I fly again, but I'll try to post the result then. It will be from Alabama to San Francisco, so if the pen is going to leak, there will be ample opportunity.

 

By the way, there is another topic with a similar title in this same forum. Perhaps the two should be merged somehow.

[njagota]

Surprised that no one ever mentions how great the Parker 61 (capillary) is for flying. I use mine with impunity, always writes, never leaks, no rules to follow. It one of the reasons to own one, besides being an excellent business pen.

 

Regards, Nimesh

[asaha]

I read a manual of one of my pens. It just asks to keep the nib up when taking a plane so that the ink will not leak. So I guess the best way is to keep the pen in the shirt pocket.

[VivienR]

Well, its good to know, that many fountain pen can survive the flight. I use bottled ink, but have enough cartridge, so probably will flight with empty pen, than put a cartridge into it, and before the return flight, will empty the cartridge. I would rather not give any chance to my pen(s) make a mess in my bag.

[85AKbN]

First leg of a trip with one stop, NV to WA to HI: Italix Parson's Essential, Noodler's black, converter around 7/8 full, stored in carry on clipped in carry on, nib up capped for first leg, second leg carry on stored under the seat ahead, sideways, FP was near horizontal. No leaks into cap or barrel. FP was never removed for writing.