Is a pilot VP safe to take on an airplane?

[Yanroy]

Hi all,

I recently acquired a Pilot Vanishing Point. I was wondering if it was safe to take it on an airplane fully inked. I know most FPs would leak due to the pressure difference between the inside of the ink chamber and the outside pressure at altitude. My parents live in Colorado, USA, which in addition to being a flight away from me is also a mile above sea level. Will the VP that they bought me be safe to take on an airplane? I'm thinking the trap door mechanism might be pressure safe. Is this true? If not, are there any FPs that are airplane safe?

 

Thanks.

 

[amh210]

Yes. I've flown with mine with no problems.

Andy

 

Hi all,

I recently acquired a Pilot Vanishing Point. I was wondering if it was safe to take it on an airplane fully inked. I know most FPs would leak due to the pressure difference between the inside of the ink chamber and the outside pressure at altitude. My parents live in Colorado, USA, which in addition to being a flight away from me is also a mile above sea level. Will the VP that they bought me be safe to take on an airplane? I'm thinking the trap door mechanism might be pressure safe. Is this true? If not, are there any FPs that are airplane safe?

 

Thanks.

[HerosNSuch]

Hi all,

I recently acquired a Pilot Vanishing Point. I was wondering if it was safe to take it on an airplane fully inked. I know most FPs would leak due to the pressure difference between the inside of the ink chamber and the outside pressure at altitude. My parents live in Colorado, USA, which in addition to being a flight away from me is also a mile above sea level. Will the VP that they bought me be safe to take on an airplane? I'm thinking the trap door mechanism might be pressure safe. Is this true? If not, are there any FPs that are airplane safe?

 

Thanks.

 

I've yet to find a problem with one fully inked. I have had a problem with a half full cart one time.

As for the second half, this was the entire purpose, from what I understand, of Parker's introduction of the Flighter line-up many moons ago.

[goldkiwi]

Yup, I took mine (mostly full converter, but not completely) on a recent trip to England and wrote with it in-flight with no problems.

[troglokev]

 

This question arises often enough that I thought I'd draw a diagram for people.

 

In the left diagram, you see a typical modern fountain pen with its nib pointing upwards. When the airplane takes off (up to about 2500m) the pressure drops, and the air above the ink expands and escapes through the section past the comb. Above 2500m the pressurisation of the cabin takes over, so the pressure is pretty constant that nothing further happens.

 

In the right diagram, the nib is pointing downwards. When the airplane takes off, the pressure drops, and the air above the ink expands and forces ink into the section. The ink sits in the buffer, which is the volume around the comb, inside the section. The function of the comb is to keep the ink in the section while allowing air to pass around.

 

If the extra volume of air is smaller than the buffer, or if the volume of ink is smaller than the buffer, then you are okay: the ink stays in the section. Otherwise, if the volume of displaced ink is larger than the buffer, you wear it. This is why people suggest that you travel with the pen either full or near empty.

 

I prefer not to take that risk, and I keep my pens nib-up in my pocket, when the plane is climbing. As to the vanishing point: the buffer on these is quite small, but so long as you keep it nib-up during take-off, it should be okay.

 

In-flight writing should not cause a problem, because the pen will have equilibrated. It helps to get rid of some of the ink in the buffer.

 

 

 

 

 

[calvin82]

 

This question arises often enough that I thought I'd draw a diagram for people.

 

In the left diagram, you see a typical modern fountain pen with its nib pointing upwards. When the airplane takes off (up to about 2500m) the pressure drops, and the air above the ink expands and escapes through the section past the comb. Above 2500m the pressurisation of the cabin takes over, so the pressure is pretty constant that nothing further happens.

 

In the right diagram, the nib is pointing downwards. When the airplane takes off, the pressure drops, and the air above the ink expands and forces ink into the section. The ink sits in the buffer, which is the volume around the comb, inside the section. The function of the comb is to keep the ink in the section while allowing air to pass around.

 

If the extra volume of air is smaller than the buffer, or if the volume of ink is smaller than the buffer, then you are okay: the ink stays in the section. Otherwise, if the volume of displaced ink is larger than the buffer, you wear it. This is why people suggest that you travel with the pen either full or near empty.

 

I prefer not to take that risk, and I keep my pens nib-up in my pocket, when the plane is climbing. As to the vanishing point: the buffer on these is quite small, but so long as you keep it nib-up during take-off, it should be okay.

 

In-flight writing should not cause a problem, because the pen will have equilibrated. It helps to get rid of some of the ink in the buffer.

 

Very great scientific explanation

[JJBlanche]

Just empty the pen when you take it on a plane, and carry a BP if you need to write during that time. I fail to understand why people chance ink stains over having a fountain pen unavailable to them for a few hours.

[HerosNSuch]

Just empty the pen when you take it on a plane, and carry a BP if you need to write during that time. I fail to understand why people chance ink stains over having a fountain pen unavailable to them for a few hours.

 

I concur. Just take your M650 and R650 (for example) with you.