I once mistakenly checked in my flying suit as hand baggage on civ-air. When they inevitably found the knife I naturally aplogised and suggested that I could remove it and hand it to the senior member of the cabin crew to ensure I didn't go barmy and open a few beer bottles when on board. Gatwick staff said, "No, don't worry, you're military aircrew, we can let that pass!" We,ve got a lot to learn from civvies.