Sorry, but I think you probably will look more like a security guard or hotel comissionaire with your stripes, Incog. Surely braid is really for the military to aid discipline and identification of leaders in the heat of battle - hardly the scenario in a C150. Anyway its all bull**** in a civilian job. You must have a low opinion of the general public if you think they are impressed by uniforms. Other professions in civilian life dont insist on scrambled egg and braid - I cant remember the last time I saluted my GP, accountant, lawer et al (well, perhaps my bank manager is an exception) and they get respect because they do the job well - not because they look like a recently self-appointed South American president.