Pilots' Pen Of Choice

[sciumbasci]

I seem to recall that someone here said that there is a particular pen which is used (or was used) by pilots, and favoured above all for it's qualities and low price. Can anyone help me out on this topic? I seem to recall it was a click pen.

 

Tried to google with different keywords, all to no avail

[Mike 59]

Hi, I remember something about this too, was it the BiC M10?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/300796-most-common-popular-ballpoint-of-the-1950s/page-3

Look at post #42 about the mention of use by pilots by 'tryphon'.

[akrohn2010]

Depends on the pilot. Gel/rollerballs are the most popular since they take comparably little pressure and are consistent. Nothing is more irritating than needing to write while flying and have your pen quit on you.

 

For military pilots, however, they're limited by the size of the sewn-in pen holders on their uniforms, which are generally too narrow to hold a Pilot G2, for instance (my favorite).

 

The most popular one I've seen is a Skilcraft (military contracted company) pen that carries a 0.5mm pencil, red and black ink rollerballs in a small black metal body. I fly with one regularly along with a 1.1 mm pencil (doesn't break as easily). No FPs for me while flying on the job - not practical at all sadly.

 

Source: professional pilot.

[sciumbasci]

Hi, I remember something about this too, was it the BiC M10?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/300796-most-common-popular-ballpoint-of-the-1950s/page-3

Look at post #42 about the mention of use by pilots by 'tryphon'.

Nailed it! The Bic M10!

You rock!

[TranquilTrout]

Hi, I remember something about this too, was it the BiC M10?

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/300796-most-common-popular-ballpoint-of-the-1950s/page-3

Look at post #42 about the mention of use by pilots by 'tryphon'.

That post says the pen can be "operated with gloves on." I didn't know there were pens that couldn't honestly...

[redpillow]

I'm an airline pilot myself and I'm sorry to disappoint you, 90% of airline pilots use the hotel pen from their last hotel stay, 9 % use the hotel pen they took from their second last stay.

 

If pilots carry anything fancy, from what I have seen it is then a Montblanc ballpoint that they have received as a gift from a spouse.

 

Pilots are more often watch-people, it's fairly common in fact.

 

I use a black/gold Pelikan 555 broad tip at work.

[Studio97]

Depends on the pilot. Gel/rollerballs are the most popular since they take comparably little pressure and are consistent. Nothing is more irritating than needing to write while flying and have your pen quit on you.

 

For military pilots, however, they're limited by the size of the sewn-in pen holders on their uniforms, which are generally too narrow to hold a Pilot G2, for instance (my favorite).

 

The most popular one I've seen is a Skilcraft (military contracted company) pen that carries a 0.5mm pencil, red and black ink rollerballs in a small black metal body. I fly with one regularly along with a 1.1 mm pencil (doesn't break as easily). No FPs for me while flying on the job - not practical at all sadly.

 

Source: professional pilot.

I have some of those Skilcraft pens and pilots often used those clicky skilcraft pens. And the military contracts on those have been going on for decades. I used them in the Air Force in 1972. They were a black plastic body with a fine to med point. (Today i ran into someone from 1972 when we crossed paths in the service. He was an EWO and participated in Linebacker II Vietnam. Those pens would be in his flight suit). Edited November 1, 2017 by Studio97

[redpillow]

The ink in those Skilcraft gets nice reviews on the internet, timeless industrial design on the pen.

 

Never heard of them before as it's all blue Ballografs for government here in Sweden.

[Tasmith]

I have some of those Skilcraft pens and pilots often used those clicky skilcraft pens. And the military contracts on those have been going on for decades. I used them in the Air Force in 1972. They were a black plastic body with a fine to med point. (Today i ran into someone from 1972 when we crossed paths in the service. He was an EWO and participated in Linebacker II Vietnam. Those pens would be in his flight suit).

 

Decades ago, Skillcraft used to have many different colors for the plastic piece under the metal end cap clicker (don't know the actual names) in their US Government pens. When a new box came in, we would take apart the pens and see if there were any colors we liked. We would leave the metal end cap off to show the color of the plastic. The color could also serve as to whose pen it was. While most of us had only a pen or two, one Marine proudly displayed at least a dozen different colors on a display board only to have all the pens confiscated during an unannounced barracks inspection for "misappropriation of government property". Not long afterwards the piece was made in white plastic only, probably just a cost savings measure and had nothing to do with people collecting different colors, but supply was much more careful issuing pens.

Edited November 1, 2017 by Tasmith