I'm another who wears a nomex flying suit whatever I'm flying; open cockpit I add an Irvin jacket over the top. If you don't like the appearance of it, take it off as soon as you get out of the aircraft and leave it on the seat.
Like others, I forgot to give my suits back to HMQ when I left, but for those who prefer non-Green there are plenty of sources of new nomex or cotton flying suits for about £30-£40. Badges are of-course optional, I make no apology for having badges on mine, but that's just because I spent enough years wearing a green growbag with badges on and it seems right to me.
For the same reasons, I almost invariably fly in a cotton polo neck, and reasonably substantial shoes or boots. And all pockets zipped, velcroed, or empty - I can live without a FOD induced control restriction.
And of-course, leather gloves under most conditions, and a helmet for aeros or open cockpit flying. Over water an emersion suit - or for that matter for a long open cockpit flight in winter, they keep the cold air out a treat.
A couple of further thoughts. Leather flying helmets look great and feel wonderful in an open cockpit, but I really don't believe that they provide much in the way of crash protection. A thin summer flying suit over shorts is no hotter than jeans and a t-shirt, so I really don't accept the argument that it's too hot to wear one. I'd certainly much rather have my arms covered, just in case my next prang is more exciting than the last.
It may of-course be possible that I'm either paranoid, or an aviation fashion victim, or both. But, frankly, I don't care.
I do draw the lines at two things. No gold bars, ever. And I've so far avoided the orange flying suits beloved of the flight test departments at BAe and Westlands.
G
Last edited by Genghis the Engineer; 10th April 2003 at 21:52.