MTS or SKB hard cases for airline transport.

[Chris Olka]

Hey folks, I've been using my various red aluminum MW flight cases over the years and they've been great regarding protection. However, my back and wallet can't deal with 2 horns at a time anymore. I've been looking at cases specifically for a Miraphone 1281/Petruschka-sized horn. Both SKB and MTS make decent looking cases and supposedly folks have used them for airline transport. I'd be adding a lot of custom molded memory foam to the interior as well.

So, anyone have actual experience for air travel with these cases? Please, first hand reports only. Include horn model and which case. Also, not looking at the ACCORD cases yet. A bit spendy and too long a wait right now. That'll be an option if need be later down the road.

Any help greatly appreciated.

[Tubainsauga]

I've been using an MTS case to fly with my Neptune for a few years. It was that or nothing really as everything else was going to be too big and too heavy (and it was on sale, always a plus). It has been pretty good and appears to protect the instrument well enough. It's a tight fit so the horn doesn't rattle around too much. It will almost certainly sustain damage if it is substantially mishandled, but the same could be said of all but the sturdiest flight cases. Not really sure if any of this is useful. (The newer SKB cases look really good and the website is actually helpful in checking measurements!)

[ScottM]

I used an MTS case to take a horn overseas with no damages. They are nice folks to deal with and I ended up with fitment for both my horns. Their website will help get a good fit.
ScottM

[JustinLerma]

Chris,

While stationed with the Navy Band in Italy, I flew with a PT-6 in a MTS to thirty different countries. The case was fairly new, about 2 years old, before I took my first flight and it worked just fine for the first bit of time. However, after six months and eight flights (granted two flights were to Africa and some ship movement) the wheels on the case crapped out on me; one side became flat and I was spending a lot of time and energy dragging the case on one wheel making life a bit difficult. Additionally, the handle for the case is vertical and if you aren't flying around too much, that isn't a big deal. If, however, you are flying regularly and moving gear for "long" distances (outside of airports and in them) you may begin to experience hand cramping, wrist pain, and frustration from the handle sliding through your grip and crushing your hand in to the top half of the handle.

As for the durability of the case, I can say I put this thing through the ringer. It has been handled incredibly poorly by baggage handlers (Even experiencing a fall from the airplane to the tarmac. Thanks Baltic Ai!!!r), has been dragged up and down ship ladder wells, has had tons of gear thrown on top of it, and has traveled overseas to America and my horn never experienced any trauma. The case, however has cracks in several places and, as previously stated, the wheels and handle aren't ideal for heavy use. I will also say that one of the other tuba players has a small Miraphone Bb in an MTS (model number isn't coming to mind) and when the case was accidently dropped out of a gear van, about three feet high, the bell creased. It may have been an isolated event but I think it is worth mentioning. If I were to have stayed with the band I would have had to request a new case- I don't think this case would've made it too much longer (five years of time total).

As far as fees go, the MTS has always sent me in to the oversized AND overweight categories. Perhaps that's just the various airlines trying to grab a few more bucks but it has always been a consistent issue. The Accords do sound very tempting for the fee problems alone, but yes, very expensive and too long of a wait.

This was just my two cents and I think my case is a bit more extreme than most peoples. Hope it helped.

Justin

[CC]

I would suggest contacting Pat Sheridan directly about this very topic. He uses MTS case shells and swaps in a unique design of a suspension style case interior. He goes through the shells fairly regularly with his travel schedule but has access to a supply. He will talk about this candidly with anyone that contacts him. There is no case design available that won't wear out eventually with prolonged and sustained use though.

[Chris Olka]

Thanks for all the replies. This has given me a lot of good info. I think I'm going to pick up a used MTS case, gut it, and make a custom interior with memory foam. I've got a few old King-sized mattress toppers made from the stuff.

Thanks!

[cjk]

Would your existing MW cases work better if they had wheels? There are folding luggage carts which can handle over 200 pounds. a quick google search led me here: http://www.handtrucksrus.com/newluggage.aspx" target="_blank" target="_blank

I've handled a Walter Johnson flight case a few times but never owned one. It didn't strike me as appreciably heavier than my own MTS case, but I may be comparing apples to oranges.

Didn't Chuck Dallenbach fly with his Yamaha YCB-621 in the stock Yamaha case? Aren't those somewhat similar to MTS cases? Given that you are a Yamaha Performing Artist , maybe you could use a Yamaha case?

[Kayla]

I made a flight from CT to Montreal, then to Moncton, NB, with my MW2250 in a MTS 1204(?) hard case, of which I bought used. I used bubble packaging and "air pillows" to help with keeping it safe. Everything came out okay, and the case was not damaged.

It would be cool to see your finished product after gutting out the case.