Fountain Pens and Airplanes

[enricof]

You may find interesting this post.

 

I took several flights carrying FP (most often with the 149), my mixed results.

Nib up is the most important thing to remember.

 

Nowadays I would take a 823 (and remember to pay attention when I open the shut-off valve).

[Johnny Appleseed]

I don't think age has anything to do with whether a fountain pen will or will not leak, it's a matter of storage.

 

It isn't age so much as certain features of the feed. A pen with a simpler (non-combed) feed will be less able to handle changes in air pressure. I have taken various pens in flights with me, and used them during various conditions during the flight. Pens that leaked or flooded were, eg., a 1940s Webster with a few small cuts on the feed, but not deep fins like a typical modern cartridge pen (or even like a 1940s Sheaffer).

 

John

[lapis]

I don't understand the issue I suppose. If you are worried about ink leaking, make sure the pen is empty. That way, there is no ink to leak!

I don't fly all the time but I've never flown in the last 5-6 years without 2-3 pens (loaded) clipped into my T-shirt and vest pockets. Ditto 1-2 15 ml (1/2 oz) Nalgene bottles full of ink. Never had any problems yet.

BTW (don't know how important this is) but the pressure in a plane at 10 km height is "only" about 3/4 of one bar (1 bar = atmospheric pressure on the soil = sea level).

 

Mike

[voop]

Alright, in the interest of research on this important matter on fountain pen leakage, I booked 6 flights over the past 4 days, with 4 of these flight being over 6h in duration and trans- or intercontinental, andthe other two a bit above 2h. The airplanes were Airbus 321, Boeing 737, Airbus 330, Airbus 340-300 (x2) and a Boeing 777.

 

Of course, as I was flying to test fountain-pen resilience to flying anyways, I took advantage of the situation to spend lay-overs on visiting clients and collaborators (that's not exactly the order of priority I told the boss, though, but you folks won't be telling right?)

 

I flew with two Waterman Exception, two Waterman Carene and two Pilot VP. One of each had a converter and the other of each had a cartridge. All the c/c's were between half and three-quarters full. I also had a Waterman Edson with me, with a cartridge which was almost empty.

 

The pens were stored together (same pouch) and nib-up or horizontal, depending on flight - with exception of one Exception which was always nib-up and, if it wasn't it was in use during the flights.

 

From among these pens, the score was that a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens leaked or exhibited other undesired behavior in-flight. Post-flight, a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens had ink anywhere accessible or in the cap. also, a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens had problems starting, writing etc. post-flight.

 

While I am no statistician, that is a pretty low variance on the results, which I therefore consider as statistically significant enough to simply stop worrying....

 

....which is good, since I've been traveling with FPs for the better part of a decade by now

 

As always, your milage may vary, and take my observations for what they're worth: just one guys observation.

[bernardo]

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

 

Maybe you'll find this useful:

 

Flying with a FP

[welch]

I have flown a dozen times or more in the past year...right up until the company decided to minmize expenses...around eary October. Come January, I'll be travelling again.

 

Never had a problem with pens. I use P51s mostly, usually with one in my shirt pocket and three in a pen case...the case fits horizontally in my brief-case.

 

So: the worst possible way to travel with a fountain pen: old FPs not "nub up"

 

No leaks. No sign of a leak or anything like ink build-up.

 

I conclude: travelling with fountain pens on an airplane is safe...safer, perhaps, than taking a bus. They bounce more.

Edited December 10, 2009 by welch

[epv]

i flew with a waterman safety, an old german Mercedes piston-filler, and a plunger Triumph this week. Managed to stow them so they traveled nib-up and none of them leaked. The safety went nib-down on the return flight which of course made no difference.

[georges zaslavsky]

I have taken one of my french made button fillers during one of my flights and didn't have a mishappening.

[draperfish]

If anyone still cares I flew from Little Rock, to Dallas to Boulder and back last week with three Pelikan Fountain pens and zero leakage. Pens were full going there, not so much coming back.

[AloofObserver]

If you are really paranoid about bringing a FP aboard a plane, consider putting it inside a small airtight container.

 

If the security guard asks you why you have a pen stored in a container... just make sure that you don't answer by telling him that it might explode otherwise.

[Richard Bollinger]

Find a friend that smoke cigars. Ask for a cigar tube. Use one of right size. Put a bit of styrofoam or sponge at the bottom. Use to hold pen during flight.

 

Rick

[Pen Engineer]

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 would like to refer to a paper on this topic on my blog fountain pen magic...

 

Its title is Temperature and Air Pressure

 

click on it and it should get you there.

 

I explain there some general principles of physics which apply to fountain pens, the feed in particular. I hope this will shed some light on the subject. Any questions? Ask

[Pen Engineer]

Alright, in the interest of research on this important matter on fountain pen leakage, I booked 6 flights over the past 4 days, with 4 of these flight being over 6h in duration and trans- or intercontinental, andthe other two a bit above 2h. The airplanes were Airbus 321, Boeing 737, Airbus 330, Airbus 340-300 (x2) and a Boeing 777.

 

Of course, as I was flying to test fountain-pen resilience to flying anyways, I took advantage of the situation to spend lay-overs on visiting clients and collaborators (that's not exactly the order of priority I told the boss, though, but you folks won't be telling right?)

 

I flew with two Waterman Exception, two Waterman Carene and two Pilot VP. One of each had a converter and the other of each had a cartridge. All the c/c's were between half and three-quarters full. I also had a Waterman Edson with me, with a cartridge which was almost empty.

 

The pens were stored together (same pouch) and nib-up or horizontal, depending on flight - with exception of one Exception which was always nib-up and, if it wasn't it was in use during the flights.

 

From among these pens, the score was that a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens leaked or exhibited other undesired behavior in-flight. Post-flight, a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens had ink anywhere accessible or in the cap. also, a whooping number of 0 (zero) pens had problems starting, writing etc. post-flight.

 

While I am no statistician, that is a pretty low variance on the results, which I therefore consider as statistically significant enough to simply stop worrying....

 

....which is good, since I've been traveling with FPs for the better part of a decade by now

 

As always, your milage may vary, and take my observations for what they're worth: just one guys observation.

I may have an interesting paper for you.... about why

 

aeroplanes can't fly.

 

You will find there some useful data on flying and aircraft. Click on the title and you may get there. Enjoy.

[eliweisz]

The only fountain pen I dare to travel with is Platinum #3776 Century with its really airtight cap. Never had a problem.

[Pen Engineer]

The only fountain pen I dare to travel with is Platinum #3776 Century with its really airtight cap. Never had a problem.

I travel on my broom stick

[eliweisz]

I travel on my broom stick

Great!

[KLscribbler]

I've never had a fountain pen actually leak on a flight. The closest I've come to leakage was when I forgot I had a half-full Waterman Harmonie in my carry-on, in a horizontal position. After the flight I quickly inspected the pen and found the feed completely saturated with ink, but no ink had actually dripped off of the nib/feed into the cap.

 

Nowadays I only fly with pens that have really airtight caps. My favorite pen for such travel purposes is my TWSBI Mini - its O-ring cap seals make it really airtight. That pen is not going to leak anytime.

[FountainPenCowgirl]

I take Kaweco Sports when I fly, for two reasons. One, with the exception of my Art Sport (which no longer leaves the house), they're no big deal to replace if lost. Two, I can pop in a cartridge of a favorite PR or Diamine ink, carry an extra or two, and be good to go. Only one failure so far. Unfortunately, it was a cartridge of Diamine Monaco Red. Clean-up looked like a massacre had taken place on the B concourse.

Edited August 15, 2016 by FountainPenCowgirl

[Calabria]

I've had a few pens leak - especially a Safari, which was messy.

 

On a recent trip, I took a Sailor PG along and this is probably the only time I've ever uncapped and written with a fp on a plane at cruising altitude. No problems whatsoever.

 

My rules are: pens go upright in the carry on; I try and store the carry on upright. Ink bottles are usually 50 ml or less, so no restrictions to carry them on as well. I prefer pens with screw caps.

[bogiesan]

Others' anecdotal experience does not imply your results will be at all similar.

Pens leak or they don't.

Traveling on an airplane may enhance any pen's tendency to leak or it might not.

I don't care how my pens may or may not react while traveling. My experience has nothing to do with orientation, brand, model, or capacity of ink reservoir. They leak or they do not.

I put them in plastic bags along with some absorbent material.

If they leak, for any reason, they clean up quickly.

If they don't leak, I'm delighted but it proves only that they did not leak. There is no way for me to infer why or why not. Might have been a bubble. Might not have properly secured the cart or convertor. Might have been user error. Aliens.