New RAF Uniform

[Scamp]

Honest question, in these tri service times surely it's one office looking at uniform across Navy, Army, RAF and Marines. Why the radical approach to the RAF?

[gcal]

So much fuss over a set of rags.
I am surprised as I had previously thought the only concern of the RAF was the colour of the curtains.

[gcal]

Originally Posted by 207592

Dressed in appropriate workwear, quite right. Coveralls for engineers; something warm for those of airfields, and shirt and slacks for those in offices? Is there need for hoodies and tracksuit bottoms?

'Slacks'....I'll just rush off and check the century

[Scamp]

Slacks with elasticated waistband of course!

[London Eye]

Originally Posted by Scamp

To make it more appealing to the next generation ? surely the basics of the military stand without change, why is the system making these choices? and who advises them.

Originally Posted by Scamp

Honest question, in these tri service times surely it's one office looking at uniform across Navy, Army, RAF and Marines. Why the radical approach to the RAF?

I'll tell you what Scamp, they are both reasonable questions... but why not make it easier for us and just tell us what sort of article you are trying to write!
.

[toratoratora]

Originally Posted by minigundiplomat

That says more about you than us......

Yes, it does-the same way I don’t display my job title away from work, unlike some.

[Scamp]

Originally Posted by London Eye

I'll tell you what Scamp, they are both reasonable questions... but why not make it easier for us and just tell us what sort of article you are trying to write!
.

​​​​​​​Article? care to expand?

[uffington sb]

Wasn’t there a trial in the early 70’s of light blue to replace the original KD. Thankfully they settled on ‘stone’, which is what I was issued with when posted to RAF Gan.

[BEagle]

There was a slightly later trial, I heard.....which included blue suede bondhu boots!

Stone won the day!

Did anyone actually spend their 'KD allowance" on KD??

[NutLoose]

Stone that rapidly changed colour when working on aircraft never to look the same again.

[Old-Duffer]

Yes Beagle, I spent my KD allowance on KD, however, as I had several 'KD wearing posts' one after the other, I quickly found that I needed to dip into my own pocket. I made a mistake of buying some KD in UK before my first trip and arriving in it. At HQFEAF, I was introduced to a charming (much older WRAF) officer, who was told to take me to Changi Village and get some real stuff sorted. In my third jaunt I acquired a No: 6 - the smartest piece of kit the RAF ever had IMHO. The downside was that I was then promptly appointed O i/c the station Guard of Honour.

Being of 'modest stature - alright, I'm a shortarse' - I was given my jungle greens by a friendly Ghurkha officer (2nd/7th GR in those days) and for many years, all my RAF kit came from Au Wai Lam, the station tailor at Kai Tak. My big regret was that I never got a 'genuine' Bates SD hat.
Old Duffer

[MPN11]

Originally Posted by NutLoose

Stone that rapidly changed colour when working on aircraft never to look the same again.

Not to mention the endless variations of shade and colour, depending o the original source. I remember a colleague at Tengah who had HK-made KD that had faded to almost white over time. My Tengah Village stuff retained a very light brown hue . Like the Army, very few of us seemed to wear the same colour/

[ShyTorque]

Originally Posted by minigundiplomat

That says more about you than us......

One of the sharpest reminders I’ve ever heard was when a colleague forgot to salute the RAF Wing Commander Padre!

[ShyTorque]

Originally Posted by fitliker

Some of the flameproof / fire retardant kit I have worn over the years lost it efficacy after being washed too many times . An excuse some smellies and stinkers would take not to wash very often .

Crikey…how often did you test it?

[ShyTorque]

Originally Posted by BEagle

There was a slightly later trial, I heard.....which included blue suede bondhu boots!

Stone won the day!

Did anyone actually spend their 'KD allowance" on KD??

You would soon get fed up of telling people not to step on those!

I’m too young to have been given a KD allowance. We got issued with KD on arrival at Airport Camp in Belize, but you had to be very careful which “Clothing Store” door you tried to open…... those who went there will know why.

(I don’t think I ever actually wore any KD though. I’ve still got some in the loft, over forty plus years later. It never fitted me then, no chance now!)

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Same age, near enough, as me Shy - and I had the allowance for my stint in HK. I can vouch that the Au Wai Lam No.6 was the smartest thing I ever wore in the service of HM - smart being a relative term in my case, of course.

[popeye107]

Plenty of old boys here, anyone still serving? It’s about them really, not those in the waiting room.

[MPN11]

Originally Posted by popeye107

Plenty of old boys here, anyone still serving? It’s about them really, not those in the waiting room.

Oh, I say, that’s a bit harsh! Please remember that a fighting Service is also about History and Traditions, and we are some of that!

[popeye107]

Originally Posted by MPN11

Oh, I say, that’s a bit harsh! Please remember that a fighting Service is also about History and Traditions, and we are some of that!

Thank you for your service, sir or ma’am.

[muppetofthenorth]

Originally Posted by MPN11

Oh, I say, that’s a bit harsh! Please remember that a fighting Service is also about History and Traditions, and we are some of that!

Nothing there to say they were wrong, though...

None of this of about those no longer serving. It's about those just in and those who will be in through the next 20 years while the old and bold are being eaten by worms.

Yeah, there's history. And that's written in books. It needs to be remembered, it doesn't need to be relived.