Don't think I never had a beard
Hydro - during my youth in
the NT and FNQ flogging 402s and Chieftains I was as hairy
as cousin Itt! Born mostly out of sheer laziness to shave and
the fact I wanted to look older (and therefore appear wiser) in
front of my fellow (older) pilots.
Thing is it itched and sweated a lot not to mention a lot of the
chicks just didn't dig beards (esp the scratching bit). It was
more trouble than it was worth with constantly having to trim
and mow the thing, and in the end I decided it was only for
looks and really nothing else so I shaved the damn thing off.
Immediately felt naked but in a couple of days felt refreshed
plus my score sheet rose considerably.
Still maintain its an affectation but prepared to give benefit
of the doubt to sporting one walking around carriers in 50kt
blizzards.