Ink Pen for Flying

Somedudeintn

Somedudeintn

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somedudeintn
The other day I was flying and had my pen bust and start leaking. It was cool out and I had a pretty good climb rate so I'm wondering if the pressure change had something to do with it. I was using one of the pilot precise v5 pens and I believe I've had one of them that was in my flight bag break on me before (but did not think that it may be related to pressure changes.)

I'm looking for a cheap pen that will be less likely to fail during flight. Any suggestions?
 
I've never had a pen break like that in flight, and I will climb and descend over 1500fpm. I just use whatever pens I take home from the office.
 
Although not cheap, I carry a Fisher Space Pen. Can write in any condition. I also have a good old yellow #2 pencil velcroed on the Kneeboard as backup.
 
EdFred said:
I've never had a pen break like that in flight, and I will climb and descend over 1500fpm. I just use whatever pens I take home from the office.
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Same. A Bic pen that you get from Staples works for me.
 
Any give away pen works fine,hotel pens aren't bad. For serious pilot stuff ,I keep two mechanical pencils on standby.
 
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I've had pilot pens do the same thing. Fisher space pen. Seriously.
 
I use normal ball point pens and except for one or two leaking have had good luck with them. I carry a dry-writer and sometimes even a grease pencil. If I need to badly enough, I can write notes on the side windows. Good enough for FACs, good enough for me. :)
 
I like the pilot G2 .7 pens, but I've had everyone you can think of all te way to 18k (non-pressurized) at 2k ish FPM, back down at 5k FPM, never had one checkout on me.
 
I quit using pens because they react badly to hot cockpits when they get warm in the sun. I just keep 3 or 4 mechanical pencils in the plane, no problems there.
 
Uncle Sam got me a Skilcraft B3 Aviator pen. Been good to me so far. Think they are about $20 a pop.
 
I have a plain old clicky ball point pen tethered to my kneeboard but I prefer to use a gel pen and that's what is in my flight bag. I haven't had them leak yet in the airplane (even flying unpressurized at FL190) but I have had gel pens leak on the ground quite a bit so maybe it's just a matter of time.

cheesy segue: But with the new scratchpad feature in ForeFlight, I'll start using that! :D
 
I use a Dixon Ticonderoga #2 lead pencil. Although it is hard to find any still made in the USA. The chinese models still work Ok for me.
 
Add another voting for pencil. Keep a couple of the mechanical variety in the flight bag.
 
petrolero said:
cheesy segue: But with the new scratchpad feature in ForeFlight, I'll start using that! :D
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I'm playing around with Garmin's Android app and wondered if anyone was using the scratchpad function. Seems like it could work?

I do write down the instructions from the controller going and coming, and I have a cheap ink pen, but it doesn't work well and I never remember to bring out a nicer one.
 
I just got back from the store and picked up some mechanical pencils for the flight bag. Thanks for all the suggestions. I still might order either a skilcraft or space pen.
 
iflyvfr said:
I'm playing around with Garmin's Android app and wondered if anyone was using the scratchpad function. Seems like it could work?

I do write down the instructions from the controller going and coming, and I have a cheap ink pen, but it doesn't work well and I never remember to bring out a nicer one.
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I seldom used the old scratch pad in FF because it wasn't very good (that said, my IR instructor used it all the time and had no problems). The new one from FF that came out today is definitely better to the point that I will probably start using it.
 
I use free pens, keep one on each side of the panel. The current pair advertises some medicine that I don't use. And I usually have a pen in my pocket, which I refill with either Cross or "Cross style" refills when necessary. Never had a problem, except after flying the airlines with a fountain pen. My plane doesn't seem to bother them.
 
I had a Pilot V7 explode all over my khaki shorts during climb out several years ago. You're not alone! Ballpoint pens seem to work better.
 
I use the Pilot Razor Point pens quite successfully in summer and winter cockpits.
 
???
Pens are vented, otherwise the ink wouldn't flow --- unless it was an old pen and crap congealed/crystalized on the vent (which would have caused the pen to fail for writing anyway).

Never had a problem (except for writing during turbulence).
For quick notes, I use over-head projector pens and write on the side windows (and then wipe off after landing) -- bigger letters/numbers, "in" line of sight, not as badly effected by turbulence, ....
 
airguy said:
Kinda difficult for making notes in logbooks or maintenance write-ups...
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Well come on, I was being silly. And your point is valid as far as it goes.

But some people actually do those things digitally too (see AvConnect and LogTenPro for two examples) :D

Anyway, no, I don't really see anything eliminating the need for a writing utensil. :dunno:
 
I love the feel of a nice pen, but the nicer the pen the sooner I lose it. :(
 
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