I suppose to the TSA the limits of their Imagination make everything seem like a cudgel.
TSA Official “What’s that?”
Passenger “It’s a Ruger .44 magnum.”
TSA Official “Hmm… Looks heavy, bet you could knock someone out with that.”
Got pulled over for one of the random bag searches where a guy looked over a fife I brought. Other than looking down the bore for a joint or who-knows-what it was treated like any other luggage.Just got home from Brisbane, Australia. Was visiting there to witness the birth of my new granddaughter.
No problems with my flute. Not even on 9-11-2011 in Los Angeles. I just made sure they knew that it was an irish flute. Only had to open it up to show them once.
I did get to go to the irish club in Brisbane. That was a blast. The guiness pie and the guiness was as it should be. Great. I noticed that they have irish music most every night there. Not the night that I was there. 
But, I did get to listen and talk to two whistle players practicing near our table. I did get to talk to them. They knew of the forum here. I think that they had Burke whistles. A bit foggy in there if you know what I mean and the Australian dialect is tough even from my 5 year old grandson William. 
They said that they were American whistles and look like Burke to me.
I had a great time.
“The Hammy as you may know is a black delrin headjoint on an aluminum tube. The TSA guy took it and was holding it by the head and slapping his hand with the pipe. “This looks pretty formidable” he says “what is it?”. I told him it was a flute and he had his supervisor come over. They were both talking about what a good club it would be. Finally the supervisor says “Play a song on it”. So there I stand playing Fig for a kiss at the metal detector. After the tune, they let me right through.”
Lawd Doc - I hope you shared this w/Hammy. Another way to use recycled flutes. cudgels. lol…
I get stopped maybe twice a year I’d say, never in Ireland, either they’re slack or they recognise it straight away. No major queries, I usually mime flute playing at the screen operator as I go through so they have a clue. Usual problem is if there’s a metal whistle in along with the flute. In general they have an alert on mixed material combinations. Got hauled over in the Czech Republic though with two guys trying to force the whistles inside the flute parts to make gun barrel 
flexible mic cables are another story altogether, anything you can tie someone up with. Nearly lost two of those.