Gentlemen, you all seem to be missing the point. Bars are not what make you a pilot. Attitude, determination and the will to fly and get the job done are more what i'm interested in. If you're so insecure about YOURSELVES and what you do then by all means wear what you want. I've worked hard to get were I am today, done lots long hours in c%$p places and am proud of what i do but I do not need bars on my sholders to show/prove that I'm a pilot!!! I don't have a point to prove to anyone about what I do and don't need their approval. I think you all need to get over your shallow ego's and realise that you can actually fly an aircraft without those little things on your sholders... Flying is a way of life but there is also a life outside flying.