I'm considering buying a cradle for my Bandit so I can take the model with me when I travel.

Does anyone have any idea of how much would an airline charge to bring it along as checked in luggage on a domestic flight? Or is the cradle small enough not to be charged extra?

Thanks,

David

According to Uncle Bob..........

Depends on the airline. I just came back from Honduras and they charged me 125.00 dollars to ship my model but not sure about other airline. I know when I flew to Arizona on delta they charged me nothing so I think it depends.

I never knew you could take model planes on airlines with you.[X(]

I actually read that, however I find it may be outdated. My concern is, if it will cost me $200 or more to take the model with me then I'd pass on buying the jet case. However if it is the typical $50 (as AA does), then it would be a nice investment.

I use hard sided golf bags. The airlines do not charge extra for them, (I dont tell, they dont ask whats in 'em) but you are limited to what you can fit into one. I have a 78" Tiger Moth that fits into two of them. Cost me $60 each at KMart. Might be worth a look. Be carefull with any fuel left on board as it goes through the bag checks [:-]

Sean

I traveled to many countries worldwide with this BVM jet case, with different airlines. I was never charged anything.

It depends on the person at the check-in counter.

I also traveled many times with jets in air worthy carton boxes, even of the size of a coffin. Sometimes they did charge me, sometimes not, even for the same airline company. The worst case is when they tell you it must be shipped cargo, although you are there at the check-in desk. Then it becomes a true nightmare, as the kero vapours start coming out while standing there for a few days and suddenly they consider it as dangerous goods, in which case you are totally dependent of the goodwill and the signature of an airliner captain who understands your baby wants to go home too.

I considered the BVM case as my best option... but not every jet fits in ![:@]

Nicolas.

If you decide to travel witha jet, here's something to consider.....
As Spiderjets mentioned, the fuel smell is always going to be in the jet and Jet Case, especially if you use Jet-A as many, if not most of us do.

Before packing the jet in the case, carton, coffin or whatever container you choose, completely purge the fuel system of residual fuel and rinse the fuel system using PPG DX330 ACRILI-CLEAN. This will remove the fuel smell, and is not harmful to the fuel system or engine. Do the same thing before you pack for the return trip. A gallon of ACRILI-CLEAN goes for under $15.00 at the PPG dealer. Maybe you can make arrangements with a friend at the other end to snap up a gallon for your use before the return trip. You can't take it with you on the jet, so he can keep whatever goes unused.

This might seem to be a hassle, but a local UPS clerk opened a JetCat shipping box, sniffed the P-120 and pump and asked me "Is this is a carburator?" They would not ship the engine simply because it still had a residual fuel smell. UPS, I told the desk clerk that the cardboard box was more flammable than the engine or pump....seems like she didn't understand that the engine is designed to contain fire.......Bob Wilcox doesn't have this problem shipping with UPS. I wonder why?
After repacking it, I took it over to FedEx, and was not asked the question. FedEx will get all of my business from now on.

Airlines have very real safety concerns, so any steps you can take to eliminate residual fuel vapor flammability concerns are worth the effort.

Just my .02 worth.......


Harley Condra
BVM REP
JetCat REP