I have just been informed that the box I mentioned before is now discontinued, it did seem a bit too good to be true and as Jem mentioned it may not have lasted very long.
I had considered a similar course to Aanvil and so will look into that idea over the next few days or the other option is I’ll just have to make one.
You want a pistol case?
(The 4-gun version of) THIS is a pistol case:
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_95089____SearchResults
My usual kit includes
Two flutes (D + Eb or Bb)
a low D whistle
a low A whistle, fully assembled
3 smaller whistles (D, Eb, C)
Cork grease
Teflon tape
Humistat
Cleaning rag
Cleaning rod
It’s about the size of a briefcase, though deeper, so too big for Loren’s backpack, I suspect. But for the automotively inclined, if you don’t mind looking like some sort of competition shooter, it works a treat. Also makes a handy and level drinks “table” at outdoor gigs.
I’ve stolen one of the kids laptop cases (they’ll never miss it…) A small gun case just slides into the pocket on top. Music notepad in the pocket on the bottom, rest of the junk inside (cloth, rod, spare flute, whistles, fife, recorder, batteries, tuner, grease, pencils, manuals, and god-knows-what)
This way, I just look geekie instead of dangerous…(LOL)
I look so the antithesis of dangerous that I kinda enjoy trying on the role. 
I dunno, wielding that flute to my left, you looked pretty dangerous to me…
Are you sure that wouldn’t be deep enough? It says that laptops of 1.7" thickness can fit. My keyless flute has a maximum diameter of only 1&3/16". I’d think that the extra width of the keys would just sink into the foam interior, if even they needed more than 1.7".
On another note,
Is anyone making cases out of carbon fiber? If such a case had the same amount of padding that a traditional hardwood case would have, I think it would be ideal for viable protection in a minimal size. I’ve looked but only see CF cases for other types of instruments.
Flute? What flute?
Wow, you like living on the edge Eric. One trigger happy rookie and we’ll be hearing about you on the news 
A bunch of good options have been brought up so far. Nothing quite “perfect” for me needs yet, but I doubt my ideal case exists, so I’ll have to look into each of these a bit, and then decide what compromises I am willing to make.
Loren
This Pelican case is similar to the other one but smaller. It has foam blocks to customise for your instrument. I think I’m going with it, if my new flute turns out to fit.
http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1080
A bigger one with the blocks:
http://pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1090
Dangerous to that stray Budweiser under my chair, at any rate. 
But IIRC the flute wasn’t involved in that takedown.
Wow, we need to do that again sometime (the tunes, not the beer-tipping – or the getting yelled at by Billy McComiskey)! Maybe we’ll get to NH this summer during our annual VT swing. No East Durham this year, alas 
– gotta conserve those plane rides.
Keep me posted..there’s always Salt Hill in Lebanon…maybe 
figure a new flute case by then !
So is this a case of a Flute Case Just in Case?
Hey, that’d be cool. I think I remember Gordon saying that was a nice session, and we’re about 20 minutes north of Montpelier, so … total within the Northeast Kingdom realm!
I have this one Aanvil mentioned- I like it - It’s totally sturdy and very versatile with the pocket and removeable strap.
but Loren - Pat Olwell sold it to me some years ago cos he said it was too big to fit into his backpack.
nicely played 
I think Loren would look dashing buzzing all round Boston like Caominh O’Raghallaigh with a fiddle case strapped to his pack.
So … how about a backpack viola or guitar case that happens to hold your flute and other stuff, too!?
Or maybe one of these?
http://www.ebags.com/hideo_wakamatsu/super_hybrid_gear_ii/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=125764
You could just put it in a cavallero case with something like that.
Just thinkin’ outside the box for ya, my friend.
Neato !
And, of course, I know where he could get one of those “Messenger” bags…and look like a PRO !
I will never understand what passes for “stylish” in Japan these days 
That is one ugly and uncomfortable backpacks I have ever seen, but I appreciate the thought 
If I went with a guitar case I’d fit right in with all the Berklee students, that’s for sure.
The Pelican cases look good, but they don’t have anything quite the right size, darnit. The laptop cases are really too big for my needs.
I really like the size of the cheapish french style cases, but don’t have much confidence in their shock absorbing ability, should I happen to take another header from the bike onto the concrete as I did last year.
I like the protec cases, but they are they involve compromising just about everything: They are not completely rigid (crush proof), they are not waterproof (I often get caught out in the rain on the bike), and they are large enough that they will not fit in my small daypack, and while they would likely fit in my larger backpack, the protec case wouldn’t leave enough room for the other gear I need to carry around.
Hmph.
Came with a flute I hope
Loren
My fancy French flute lives in a fancy French case with a fancy Cavallero cover to boot. It’s pretty well protected; I think it would protect the flute in a fall as long as I didn’t land on it. However, the flute also sits in more of a “cradle” type arrangement inside, which really doesn’t let it move much.
I don’t know how you could adapt one of those to fit a bigger-diameter flute, though …
With that in mind, I go back to the combo flute/picc case John G. repurposed for my Bb (like the one I linked to earlier). It’s pretty darned stout, and small enough for a pack. He took out the wood innards and put in three curved metal half-tubes that ran from front to back and served as the “channels” for the flute parts. He then covered the tubes with a little padding and the original velveteen, and that’s how it came to me. However, knowing what a klutz I am I wanted a bigger block between the lower body and foot joint plus more padding, so I ripped out his fabric, added more foam padding to the bottom and the lid, and covered it all in lovely dark green faux velvet from Wal-Mart.
Anyway, he’ll make you one – I think he only charged me about $30 for mine though I put probably another $10 into it 'cause I’m a chicken.
The only drawback is it looks like a dorky flute case. I suppose if you took off the handle that’d frenchify it some, but the handle’s kind of useful occasionally …