I am taking a flight soon and want to take the pens with me. I read about pens leaking from the pressure changes and wondered if it was true, and if so, what do I need to do to prepare them for the flight.

Jack

I've taken many flights with FP's in my carry-on bag. Just make sure they're full beforehand (or at least nearly full) and don't be tempted to use them on board just i case!

Martin

I recently flew with a pared down collection - "51" aero flighter; "51" aero; Waterman Expert 2000. All were full prior to departure, all in carry on bag and for safety sake carried in small zip lock bags. Both "51"s leaked some into their caps and required some cleaning in my hotel room before I could use them. The Expert 2000 (full cartridge) was fine.

Stories and experiences vary it seems - the safe bet is to keep them in a plastic bag and as full as you can get them prior to departure. My experience was a little frustrating to be honest....

You can't use fountain pens in an airplane?

The standard advice is to carry the pen EITHER completely full OR completely empty. It is safer to ensure the pen is upright, which is easier to ensure if you carry the pen in a pocket, but many people don't do that.

The two pens I've found that I'd trust are a Parker 61 (the capillary filling system works really well on planes) or the Namiki Vanishing Point (it's pretty leak resistant, and the trap door keeps any spills inside the pen).

Otherwise, with modern pens, it's a bit of a lottery. I've made a lot of flights with no problems, but on some flights I've had Aerometric "51"s -- normally very reliable -- spit into their caps. My flying isn't typical, as I mostly do long sectors, and it's the change in cabin altitude that does most of the damage, which happens as you go up and down. OTOH, I think prolonged vibration wouldn't be the best thing, either.

You can use FPs in aeroplanes, but you'd want to be *very* cautious as you open the pen for the first time -- holding the pen with one of those many little paper napkins you accumulate on a flight would be a good idea, as would holding it over the airline's soft furnishings rather than your clothes.

I have seen no reports of different results in business rather than cattle-class.

Best

Michael

Thanks. I wonder how Cores would fare in airplanes...

I don't fly often, when I have flown keeping the pen upright for a few hours before flight and not taking it out of my shirt pocket to use until the ascent has finished has been successful so far. Same for the descent, pocket the pen early and there have been no problems.

I fly a lot and never have had an issue with my two Cross Century II cartridge/converter fountain pens the following:
1. Push the air out of the converter (pen, upside down, empty air until I see some ink in the nib).
2. I store my two Century II fountain pens inside a zip lock bag.
3. I put them into my carry on bag, below the seat in front of me, in the upright possition.
4. Once the plane levels off, I do take them out and use them. Never had an issue with them.

I have had an issue with needlepoint and rollerballs (disposable type). But never with my two trhustworthy fountain pens. I haven't tried pens that I can't release air from them. (Sac pens, pistons, or anything like that).

I've flown internationally and cross-country with my FP's for years and never noticed an issue. No special precautions or procedures. They get much rougher treatment in my daily life anyway.

Your mileage may vary...

I've written many pages in planes using fountain pens. The three rules I follow are very simple, and have worked for me always.

• Allways fill the pen before departure. If this is not possible, I can always empty the air out (I use coverters or piston fillers, mostly).
• Use screw-on caps only.
• Open the pen holding the nib in an upwards position.

Other than that, I carry them in my briefcase, and have never had any leaks.