Help me with some nuances of the language

[cornish-stormrider]

Oh how the other forces must be laughing at you lot of pillocks. Here is an engineer's decision. Wear what you want, have a plausible excuse prepared in advance and when the useless REMF who is on another "assessment approaching, increase visibility by changing something" project comes and moans he will be shot down. At my last posting swo had a moan about how we carried rucsacs across from domestic site to technical FFS. Oh how I laughed when he bawled me out and I refused - I cited a personal order from the colonel at Headley Court. Colonel trumps swo, swo goes beet red and yells at someone else. Bimble away happy.

There also was the miserable git at ISL insisting that only uniform to be worn on bicycles on station while going to - from work.............. it lasted until I complained to the plod I nearly flattened two lineys cycling by the end of the runway with no lights or high dayglo clothing............. Miserable git lost too.

Wear whatever you feel best able to achieve your primary aims for the day. In the case of some on here that will be best mess dress then

Cocktail swilling wuperts that they are, and if you are offended by being called a wupert then I hate to say it but that is probably what you be.

[Blacksheep]

Just an idea from an old & very retired tech sergeant, but why not have everybody wearing a grow bag all the time?

For those who don't fly, it wouldn't be a "Flying Suit" so it would need a different name, lets say "Denims" for instance.

To differentiate aircrew from blunties all that's needed is for the FJ guys to wear their G-suits and helmets. Bingo! Problem solved.


I rather liked the brown dustcoat and fly-away beret that all we self respecting techies wore in the "good old days".

[Wader2]

Originally Posted by davejb

- growbags aren't a pull factor.

Oh they are, oh they are. Now that the statute of limitations has passed:

We were invited to a 'bottle party' in a block on the Goose. Our leader, who retired as an Air Cdre (great bloke) took a Victor and a Vulcan crew to the party with just one bottle - 80 oz of baccardi.

Now we, as good Bomber Command aircrew were indeed in civvies but the girls were in growbags. Just growbags. The carpet had been taken up in the BOQ and the floor was swimming in booze and broken glass. This had the effect of keeping all the girls off the floor and dependent on us serving them.

I still have some memories of that night.

[Wader2]

Having now read the IBN it seems reasonably clear that aircrew travelling home-to-duty will wear blues. Once on the sqn, or leaving the gym after their PT session and en route to flying related activities they can wear flying suits.

The issue will then arise with the 'no flying suits in the mess' and the 'only blues in SHQ' brigade. when we know how impracticable that can be.

Then the new blue RAF Logoed coveralls will be great to see especially where I work (not).

[Wrathmonk]

Not being able to get sight of this latest instruction please tell me it includes those RAF personnel in Main Building, Old War Office, Abbeywood etc (although they may already wear blues in the latter location - I try to avoid the place at all costs!). And if the real reason is to save wear and tear on CS95 etc has the Army done the same? Red or Purple strides and jumpers knitted by your Grandmother anyone?

On a side note it wasn't that long ago that the likes of 10 Sqn and 32 Sqn / TQF used to wear blues to fly in when on a trooping sortie (obviously to safe places like the Bahamas, USA, Singapore etc etc and not compatible with todays expeditionary force). Assume it had something to do with using civil airports (a bit like being a pax from Honington to Goose Bay and having to travel in civvies just in case we diverted ...). Seem to remember there was some opposition to going to growbags from some quarters at Brize and Northolt - also heard an urban myth that you had to be a sqn ldr to be a capt on 10 Sqn. How times change! Perhaps BEags can offer a view?

I remember well having to go to work (1987-ish) in blues and change into growbag if on the programme. Only time I ever really used the huge flying clothing lockers they gave us!

[Zoom]

Then the new blue RAF Logoed coveralls....

Don't know if the above preempts my suggestion, but why doesn't the RAF go back to blue flying suits? Colour problem solved. (Obviously, the operational implications of green versus blue for the aircrew are secondary to the PC need to keep everyone else happy.)

Or dayglo orange? That looks pretty cool behind a chilled beer.

[BEagle]

....it seems reasonably clear that aircrew travelling home-to-duty will wear blues. Once on the sqn, or leaving the gym after their PT session and en route to flying related activities they can wear flying suits.

What utter cock! Many non-FJ aircrew don't go the 'the sqn' to fly - they report to Stn Ops. Which at most bases doesn't have any room for flying clothing lockers.

Another morale-raising edict, it would seem. Just imagine arriving home after a long detachment to the Great ****pit, only to be told you have to chnage into blunty blue before going home...

Still, I suspect that the main reason behind this is to get people to talk about something else rather than the RAF's weak leadership, sorry, 'management' and the crass inability of the UKADGE to see Blackjack bombers.......

[Wader2]

Originally Posted by Wrathmonk

tell me it includes those RAF personnel in Main Building, Old War Office,

And if the real reason is to save wear and tear on CS95 etc has the Army done the same? Red or Purple strides and jumpers knitted by your Grandmother anyone?

. There will be no change immediately for personnel serving in the MOD in London. However, visitors to MOD may wear uniform as they see fit.

an urban myth that you had to be a sqn ldr to be a capt on 10 Sqn. How times change! Perhaps BEags can offer a view?

No myth. We had the VC10 Sqn Ldr. usually most of them were made up at some point but a few, whose face didn't fit, lost their rank when posted. You could tell an ex-VC10 Sqn Ldr by the wide gap between rank bands
.

BTW, Gym Queens and medical staff will also wear blue when not at their place of duty.

But the best bit is:

Clothing policy staff will strive to ensure that the grade of uniforms is the best possible that can be provided within current financial constraints;

[sisemen]

Where's the problem with the "blue collar staff" wearing their working overalls?

Up until 1972 everyone wore aircrew uniform. Except in those days they called it battledress.

[Sideshow Bob]

To receive flying pay you have to be on flying related duties, therefore anyone who receives flying pay must be on flying related activities and can wear a flying suit!! I think I'll stick to blues during my (flying related) ground tour though

[taxydual]

AIDU v AI R

This should be interesting!

[The Helpful Stacker]

Clothing policy staff will strive to ensure that the grade of uniforms is the best possible that can be provided within current financial constraints;

Ah, that'll explain the Primrak cast-off quality medium weight trousers then.

As for aircrew wearing flying suits, I can't see a problem with it really. Saves on wear and tear on two sets of uniform and if they wear them on CSS it enables you to spot the folk who'll need refresher training on the range before they've even shot a round.

On the question of blues or CS95 as day to day wear, if your job means you 'need' to wear CS95's because its a dirty job then actually you need to wear some coveralls, with blues underneath.

[sisemen]

The people who wear them really don't give a stuff one way or the other.

Ah. But they do! That's why the proverbial heels are dug in whenever it is suggested that blues might, just might, be an option

[4mastacker]

taxydual wrote:

AIDU v AI R

This should be interesting!

Slightly off-topic. Having met one of those gentlemen in (sort of) greens, I know who I'd be putting my money on.

Back on topic.. Does it really matter whether or not blues have to be worn when not on flying related duties (such as Orderly Officer)? What is more important is whether or not you guys still serving will part of the AAC in the not too distant future and have to wear their even lighter blue beret.

[Stitchbitch]

Ahhh bugger. Now I'll never get that new light blue shirt from stores, because all you aircrew will be nicking them...

'Stich, any chance of getting my 100Hrs Tiffie badge on my jumper?'
' off Sir!'

[Airborne Aircrew]

AIDU v AI R

This should be interesting!

The very fact you find it interesting that AIDU and Al would go against one another speaks volumes. Unfortunately those volumes are not positive for AIDU since Al is "simply a Rock".

Of course, many rocks are smarter than AIDU... but then again most RAF Regiment Gunners are too...

[Al R]

4mastacker,

Hope all well.

Half Rock said; Of course, many rocks are smarter than AIDU... but then again most RAF Regiment Gunners are also smarter than Al...