Wearing a tie in the cockpit
The rest of my gear remained in the Aircrew (huge) kitbag along with my bone dome, something like three sets of baggy green skins, a few pairs of gloves, boots, etc etc. So a reasonable charge which I wasn't going to argue about
As for the thread title, I have no memory of ever flying in collar and tie which is Good Thing as we were still in starched collars and collar studs for a disgustingly long time. Old photos show either personal knitted jumper (winter) or any old T Shirt in summer. I think the cotton roll necks came in around 1970-71, but that was the Senior Service and may have been earlier for the Light Blues.
with L plates!!
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Often in Jersey, but mainly in the past.
Age: 79
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John Eacott makes a good point about the collar detached shirts, which were standard issue when I joined in 53. Our flying suits were the silvery-grey style complete with those glorious fleece lined boots, four glove layers, leather helmets and MK 8's. For a short period, in the late 50s, we could buy plastic re-usable collars, but then came the blue aircrew shirts (initially Van Heusen, but quickly replaced by the bean-counters, by the horrid, horrid disasters from Faulats of Belfast !) Leather helmets replaced by blue cloth style and first introduction to bone-domes on Sycamores in mid 50s. Still have last issue flying boots (almost new) and sundry bits and pieces. Add in bone-dome variations and various accessories like dinghy kntves and throat mics and one could generate an extensive research project ! Wooly-pullies would, of course, require a separate project ! 
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Thread Starter
Thanks for all the feedback folks. I'm sure I've seen a line up of students next to either Gnats or JPs and they're wearing flying suits and ties, but I guess it could've been a promo shot?
I can tell you that here in the States, even in commercial aviation, during my tenure, any pilot worth the title closed the cockpit door, put the Jeppsen case where the PB&J sandwich could be reached easily and ripped the damn tie off or loosened it considerably while under their breath uttering a few choice words for the idiots in the front office who wrote the "tie rule".
Dudley Henriques
Dudley Henriques
I remember in my Trukkie days, we would leave the UK in flying suits but upon arrival were required to change into blue uniform for the two mile journey from the airport at Gander to the motel - in the winter we would wear cold weather jackets over our blues. In the morning we would have to get changed again back into green bags for a flight to Belize. Upon arrival in Central America we would have to change into KD uniform for a taxi ride in a beaten up old Cadillac to our hotel in town. On the way home we would often stop in Washington where we would stay in the same hotel as the VC10 crews who would turn up in Number One uniform - they were not happy with us staying on their very pleasant downtown hotel but fortunately not their call. Some time in the 1980’s our Station Commander saw through the insanity of all this and introduced his own rule that crews could wear flying suits throughout the task with the only stipulation that they should be clean and tidy which simply meant that Flt Engineers, Loadies and GE’s would carry a spare green bag for transportation from and to the airport.
Apologies for the thread creep above. During the 20 years or so of my subsequent Commercial career, I always took off my tie as soon as I entered the flight deck and put it back on again only for the walk to the car park or taxi to the hotel.
Apologies for the thread creep above. During the 20 years or so of my subsequent Commercial career, I always took off my tie as soon as I entered the flight deck and put it back on again only for the walk to the car park or taxi to the hotel.
Last edited by beamer; 23rd Jan 2024 at 08:08.
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One pilot you probably would not have found in the cockpit without a tie was Roland ("Roly") John Falk, he of Vulcan fame. Often flew in a pin stripe suit and certainly with a tie....
If I was a tad more ""techie"" I would be able to furnish you an image of the immaculate Mr Falk....!!!
If I was a tad more ""techie"" I would be able to furnish you an image of the immaculate Mr Falk....!!!
Last edited by Planemike; 23rd Jan 2024 at 10:11.
I can tell you that here in the States, even in commercial aviation, during my tenure, any pilot worth the title closed the cockpit door, put the Jeppsen case where the PB&J sandwich could be reached easily and ripped the damn tie off or loosened it considerably while under their breath uttering a few choice words for the idiots in the front office who wrote the "tie rule".
Dudley Henriques
Dudley Henriques
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Nostalgia is, of course, not what it used to be.
Your baby weatherman at RAF Uxbridge 1955 was encumbered by front stud, back stud, cuff links [silver, monogrammed], starched collar, white shirt, School or Met. Office tie and three piece suit. The shirt cuffs became dark grey in 12 hours anywhere near to London. Also trouser turn-ups which accumulated debris. Braces. Fly buttons. On a long night shift the sheer discomfort of turning the neck was enough to keep one awake.
Within about five years the dress code unwound to a startling degree, for which mercy many thanks, but early experiments with zip flies were hazardous.
Since retirement a tie is for funerals, weddings and holding up Compo trousers. Quote: "you're not going to the shop wearing that!" "Oh yes I bl##dy-well am!"
Your baby weatherman at RAF Uxbridge 1955 was encumbered by front stud, back stud, cuff links [silver, monogrammed], starched collar, white shirt, School or Met. Office tie and three piece suit. The shirt cuffs became dark grey in 12 hours anywhere near to London. Also trouser turn-ups which accumulated debris. Braces. Fly buttons. On a long night shift the sheer discomfort of turning the neck was enough to keep one awake.
Within about five years the dress code unwound to a startling degree, for which mercy many thanks, but early experiments with zip flies were hazardous.
Since retirement a tie is for funerals, weddings and holding up Compo trousers. Quote: "you're not going to the shop wearing that!" "Oh yes I bl##dy-well am!"
Towliing 1960. —7
Towling 1960. Cravat 1961 onwards- suave !
Civi ? Always clip on. Safety and comfort, particularly on longer trips. Then still tidy on arrival.
Civi ? Always clip on. Safety and comfort, particularly on longer trips. Then still tidy on arrival.
I always thought that clip on ties were rather lower deck, much like ready made bow ties.
However, when the safety benefits of the clip on tie were explained, I saw the reasoning. If you were wearing a tie and had to evacuate in a hurry, the last thing you would want would be to be hanged by your tie!
However, when the safety benefits of the clip on tie were explained, I saw the reasoning. If you were wearing a tie and had to evacuate in a hurry, the last thing you would want would be to be hanged by your tie!