Tan flying boots.

[Dave Haggas]

Could someone please explain the difference between the tan flying boots and the black regular boots?
Im also looking to acquire a pair of size 9-10 tan flying boots, any condition. If anyone knows where I could find any?

[H Peacock]

Hi Dave. I was first issued a pair of the tan flying boots on the UAS in the early 80s. It was probably cheaper than the more substantial black boot. The tan boot (we called it brown) was a slightly looser fit and only came up to your ankle, the '65 pattern black boot was about 4" taller. At some stage they produced the smaller brown boot in black - so we called it the 'black brown flying boot'!

I believe they stopped issuing the smaller brown/black boot long ago, but they were certainly far more comfortable when worn in the 'desert' than the various and much more cumbersome boots they procured.

[John Eacott]

ISTR that we first had the short brown/tan boots issued around 1973/74, but reasons were vague and they weren't very popular. Quite happy to return them to Flying Clothing Store on leaving, but I still have the long black boots, in fine condition after 42 years, which have seen many a firefighting season down here!

So to answer the OP about differences: on introduction they were short ankle length tan boots compared to the mid-calf length black boots at the time. What has happened in the intervening years is for someone else to explain.

[pr00ne]

Well, one are tan in colour, whereas the other are sort of black in colour, so the difference is in the colour, one being tan, and the other being black...

[NutLoose]

I had a pair I gave away years ago, seem to remember they were designated Lightweight on the box.


These are the black version on evilbay, so you can see the difference


Original RAF AIRCREW FLYING ANKLE BOOTS SIZE 8 Medium | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Original-RAF-AIRCREW-FLYING-ANKLE-BOOTS-SIZE-8-Medium-/122341655874?hash=item1c7c218542:g:P0QAAOSwImRYldRH)

[Pontius Navigator]

The brown boot was an attempt to produce an official desert boot for use in NEAF and MEAF. It was a lightweight boot, unlined and had ventilation holes around the ankle. It was a nubuck style leather that you were not supposed to polish. It was extremely popular with aircrew for that reason. It was also unpopular with sqn and station commanders for the same reason.

A black version that could be polished was then introduced. It was extremely unpopular with aircrew because it had to be polished. It was extremely popular with sqn and station commanders for the same reason

[Wensleydale]

It was also unpopular with sqn and station commanders for the same reason.


Very comfortable to wear in summer in Italy...unfortunately we had a Stn Cdr who banned us from wearing them, followed by a peeved supply officer who did not wish to replace the brown boots with the new black ones if the brown boots were still serviceable.

[H Peacock]

Well, one are tan in colour, whereas the other are sort of black in colour, so the difference is in the colour, one being tan, and the other being black...

Well, that's true, but what about the black version of the brown boot?

[Pontius Navigator]

I might add that before these were issued, while the '65 pattern boot was widely accepted several types permitted ordinary shoes to be worn, the Nimrod amongst them. Whilst that was an easy option, one soon realised that the seat runners chewed up your expensive shoes and wearing free boots was a better option.

In NEAF and MEAF however many wore commercially acquired suede desert boots. Cool and comfortable but probably not very effective for a parachute landing or wearing in a real desert. OTOH in FEAF the preferred foot wear was canvas jungle boots, high laced and thick rubber soles. Much better in a hot wet jungle than the then '51 pattern. While many of us tried to retain these when returning to UK none of us were successful. Similarly the RAAF light weight flying suits were also confiscated before we were allowed to return to UK.

[pr00ne]

Well, that's true, but what about the black version of the brown boot?

Ah well, that's very similar to the brown version of the black boot, but is a different colour.

[Pontius Navigator]

Didn't the Harrier pilots have a special?

[Guernsey Girl II]

I wonder if the OP is referring to the old 65 pat boots brown short; or the new YDS flying boots brown (just like the black ones but brown)?

[MPN11]

PN ... never worked with Harrier guys, but I have a dim recollection (like most of them these days) that they had some sort of leather cover over the laces.

[diginagain]

At one stage, we had the dubious joy of wearing 1965 Pattern Flying Boots, with Puttees, since the rest of the Field Army were in ankle boots, DMS, trenchfoot-encouraging, for the use of.

[MACH2NUMBER]

Wore my tan flying boots in training in America in Arizona. The Sqn Commander hated them so much that he took me to the stores and bought me a pair of USAF black flying boots. These are made of something like rhinoceros hide. The resulting blisters incapacitated me and I was then allowed to wear the tan boots once more. Bliss!

[gzornenplatz]

The "tan" flying boot appeared with the introduction of external G-suits as the g-trouser didn't fit too well over the longer black boot. Applying wax polish to flying boots is likely to lead to an exciting conflagration in a flash fire.

[diginagain]

Didn't the Harrier pilots have a special?

Weren't they always?

[BEagle]

I seem to recall that the lightweight tan coloured boots first appeared in around 1974 when the Bulldog entered service, as the baby Bloggs' hoofs couldn't cope with the rudder pedals in the normal boots.

Moving on a decade, we once had a Sqn Boss who ordered us not to wear brown boots in the VC10K (yes, you Jim ;) !!). Sitting in the sun at Akrotiri nattering to some staff mate who'd escaped the Box to see how things were for the Chaps (no Chapess aircrew back then on 101). He asked why on earth we were wearing hot black boots in the Cyprus sun. When I explained, he was furious - "Compliments to your Sqn Cdr, but we don't spend time and money procuring hot weather kit just to have it rejected for spurious sartorial reasons. Next time he tries to stop you, give me a call at the Ministry!".

So I mentioned this to the Boss - and I don't recall the issue of boot colour being raised again...:hmm:

Harrier pilots, sorry, Bona Mates had little flaps over their laces. This was because they have such very small willies that when using the heads, they often dripped wee on their laces, which subsequently rotted. Hence their boots often came off in the not-too-infrequent Harrier ejections....

[Dave Haggas]

Thank you for all your input. BEagle, play nicely!

[Tengah Type]

Dave Haggas

I am wearing mine as I write. Very good working boots for the sunnier climes. Protect
the feet well from flying stones, pine cones etc. when strimming the grass. Very durable
and comfortable. You are not having mine!!http://cdn.pprune.org/images/smilies/smile.gif

[bonajet]

Funnily enough Tengah, I had mine on in the garden today doing the same task. With special wee proof flaps on to boot!

[Tengah Type]

bonajet
Sorry to hear about your need for the wee proof flaps, I believe there are websites where you
can acquire equipment to help you. Or, if it is an ongoing problem, I believe Tenna have some
protective clothing that could relieve your concerns.

[rolling20]

I know Beagle won't approve of this, but to a fashion conscious 18 year old on the UAS those tan boots just didn't do it for me.They reminded me of the 'Jesus boots' that the long haired, corduroy wearing teachers of the 70s all sported.I used to lust after my COs black pair and enquired if we were the same size. I begged stores for a nice black pair, but was told that they had a job lot of tan and we weren't to be issued with any nice black ones.I did however manage to get thin cotton black socks, as the heavy ones made the old feet a bit warm, as did the green aircrew ones. One sweltering July day, I was strapped in ready to go and the CO popped his head in the cockpit and said: 'You have full right rudder on'. Before I could move, he pulled my right foot up and saw I had no socks on. 'What are you going to do if this aircraft catches fire!', he screamed. I wanted to say jump, but did not have the audacity too. I was ordered out and made to find a pair of aircrew socks. That was difficult as I hadn't worn any for about 2 months due to the summer heat.Some kind bod in the crew room lent me theirs and it cost me a beer!

[BEagle]

...a fashion conscious 18 year old on the UAS...

A what??!! Any male student who'd expressed such deviant interests in my day, either when I was a UAS student or 25 years later when I was a QFI, would have been viewed with justifiable suspicion.

I can just imagine the interview - "So, Bloggs, apart from the UAS, what other interests do you have?"

"Men's fashion, Sir"

"GET OUT!"

:hmm:

[Pontius Navigator]

No socks, sheesh, it'll be no vest and long John's either.

[BEagle]

No socks, sheesh, it'll be no vest and long John's either.

Another eBay opportunity for you to flog your old shreddies and socks, eh PN?

[NutLoose]

Ahhh reminds me of kit inspection at Halton, everyone's kit passed then DI said remove your Woolley Pulleys and to a man every one of us had ironed collars and cuffs only.

[BEagle]

Presumably the DI had been at Spitalgate* and was quite used to checking whether collars and cuffs matched....:ooh:




*In the days when only people-formerly-known-as-WRAFs were trained there.

[rolling20]

No socks, sheesh, it'll be no vest and long John's either.

Perfectly correct Pontius. Mine were unused in Squadron service. They did however serve on the slopes for a number of skiing holidays

[rolling20]

A what??!! Any male student who'd expressed such deviant interests in my day, either when I was a UAS student or 25 years later when I was a QFI, would have been viewed with justifiable suspicion.

I can just imagine the interview - "So, Bloggs, apart from the UAS, what other interests do you have?"

"Men's fashion, Sir"
Y
"GET OUT!"

:hmm:
Ah Beagle, I knew you wouldn't approve. Luckily my sporting attributes came in very handy on squadron service. I acquired the name 'Animal' after a rugby match against Cardiff OTC. I am not sure why!

[Flypro]

In the FAA one was not allowed to wear brown boots with a goon suit for some pathetic reason. Personally I think it was because the brown boot was not very popular with command.:hmm:

[H Peacock]

Okay, I'm clearly guilty here of thread drift, but talking of dress codes on UAS and 'looking cool'; I so wanted one of the collared faded blue shirts that Uncle Rod Newman used to wear under his flying suit.

Such happy days at Woodvale with its 6 runways (okay, 3), relaxed ATC, the beach. It wasn't perfect though, I almost forgot, we did have to put up with LUAS being there as well!!!

[John Eacott]

In the FAA one was not allowed to wear brown boots with a goon suit for some pathetic reason. Personally I think it was because the brown boot was not very popular with command.:hmm:

I'd forgotten that gem of stupidity!

Then again, when No 12s came in we still had to wear starched collars when visiting 'another ship' :hmm:

[BEagle]

I thought that the reason for no brown boots with goon suits was that the top of the brown boot neck was too far below the top of the immersion sock, risking damage to the latter? Whereas the higher-necked black boots were fully compatible?

Stupidity? You might view it that way.....until you realise that your damaged sock is letting in the ocean and you will probably sink before you can board the dinghy.

[Pontius Navigator]

BEagle,long gone though still have Woolly Pully ,a brand green Ben Sherman shirt and a pair of well used vintage parade gloves.