Stainless Steel or Flighter???

[Ulfr]

Hi

I have somehow been drawn to steel Parkers, I now have a Parker 45 and 75 Flighter Deluxe and Parker 15 Flighter CT. I guess what am curious about is as all Flighters are Stainless Steel , would all Stainless Steel Parkers be classed as Flighters? I have seen Sonnets marketed with and without the Flighter name?

 

thanks

 G

owner of too many and not enough fountain pens.

[silverlifter]

 

 

 

 

[Ulfr]

so what is in both of these posts makes me think the Parker 51 is the original Flighter, but Any fully Brushed Stainless Steel Barrel and Cap Parker can be called a Flighter.

[corniche]

Hi Ulfr,

 

"Flighter" is simply an antiquated term for the stainless steel finish. Think of "Flighter" the same way you'd think of Brougham. When was the last time you saw "Brougham" badges on a 4-door sedan?

 

Parker called their stainless steel pens "Flighters" because it was a hip, cool name in the 50s & 60s, when air and space travel were coming into their own.

 

- Sean 

[corniche]

8 minutes ago, corniche said:

Double post with unexplainable quote brackets.

 

[Karmachanic]

The Airplane that Inspired the Parker 51 Flighter.

http://www.newpentrace.com/article011001042.html

 

[ZeroDukE]

As far as I know the P51 Flighter was an all-steel body pen.

[corniche]

Interesting article. Here's an easier way to get there:

 

http://www.newpentrace.com/article011001042.html

 

But it should also be noted that the "Flighter" designation was used on all their stainless pens; not just the 51. The name was used through the 1980s, IIRC.

 

Afterwards, the term "Flighter" was dropped and the stainless models were simply labeled as such... the mystique of "Flighter" being long gone.

 

- Sean 

[ZeroDukE]

9 minutes ago, corniche said:

Interesting article. Here's an easier way to get there:

 

http://www.newpentrace.com/article011001042.html

 

But it should also be noted that the "Flighter" designation was used on all their stainless pens; not just the 51. The name was used through the 1980s, IIRC.

 

Afterwards, the term "Flighter" was dropped and the stainless models were simply labeled as such... the mystique of "Flighter" being long gone.

 

- Sean 

Very nice article!  Thanks.

That's right:  that designation was used on all stainless steel pens (45, 50, 61, 75, 180, Classic,...  etc)

I do agree:  dropping the "Flighter" term was not a good idea.

[Estycollector]

Since you like "flighter" pens, I'll suggest the new Wing Sung 601 in silver and gold including either a gold nib or one that looks gold. 

 

I carry my 601 everyday with a vintage Parker 45 BP with a gel refill. 

[ZeroDukE]

There is an excellent fountain pen made in Spain with this configuration too:  Stainless steel body with gold plated clip and dual-tone steel nib:  the Inoxcrom Wall Street.