As I currently work with the French Air and Space Force, I think I am qualified to say that their uniform is no different from our current No 2 uniform, but with different colours and better fit.

As you spend 99.9% of your time in flying kit, I am guessing that you also haven’t bought any blues in a long time. The newer (issue) kit is better than it used to be. Decent quality blues have always been available, you just have to pay for it.

Roland
 

In 23 years I have never paid for any blue uniform (apart from a new hat). I’ve also not had anything since my initial issue (which still fits) and the updated bits as they have been released.

Aside from Number 1s and 5s I probably haven’t worn blues for over ten years. And I haven’t worn either of those at all for at least five.

BV

So you are complaining about kit issued 23 years ago and you’ve never needed (or bothered) to buy any better quality uniform?

Roland
 

Why would anyone in their right mind pay to buy uniform that their employer mandates they should wear? If the RAF couldn’t give me blue uniform that fits and is comfortable to wear that’s bad right? I’m not going to pay to get them off the hook.

The images look like a uniform that would probably be more comfortable and accommodating.

None of this changes the fact that I think we should just wear MTP day to day with RAF flashes.

BV

Is that a bit like a 1250 but really poor quality!!

Bob,for those of us who`ve been out longer than you`ve been `in`,wossa MTP?
I was one once,but things `change`....:)

The 1250 credit card format used to self destruct , and the laminated jobby before that used to delaminate, so its obviously up there with the quality standard, what you want is it laser etched into a metal blank.

Multi Terrain Pattern as in what was DPM, ie cabbage kit.

It’s a fair point BV and I have never understood why RAF officers have to pay for a uniform we are mandated to wear, except for tradition, and the fact that for all of those 23 years you have been receiving a benefit from the tax man to help pay for that uniform. As I said, colleagues I’ve spoken to, who have used the new ordering system, have said that the newer uniform is better quality and fits better.

I'd agree with MTP with RAF flash for day to day work. My other thought was a lighter variant of the new RN working uniform. There will be cost and time savings with either of those options, and people may actually want to wear them, rather than the mess in the images on this thread.

If someone thinks that these uniforms will be used as a recruiting tool, I feel they are seriously misguided.

...With all the Gender neutralising going on....is all this kit 'Unisex' .....?

Seems like a lot of potential for mixing tops / bottoms there - it looks a nightmare to me to keep that lot controlled and people 'uniformally' dressed ......WO's will have a field day! :E

I would imagine they are test samples of the short listed designs to see which looks better in the physical form etc and what changes they need to implement.
Then a shorter list will be forthcoming as they address the issues the previous versions brought up, until a final design is selected and then binned due to financial constraints.

And on that point, BV, I totally agree. A fighting Service dressed like RAC Patrolmen (as a Recruiting mate observed) hardly engenders the right mental attitudes. But then I have pontificated on this topic before.

Agreed, plus you can hide easier from the SWO

Tax allowance.

Problem if unisex [multisex actually]: too loose in the chest for blokes, too tight in the crutch. No Ball Room as it were.

What a palava. How about : overalls / flying suits ( plus cold weather additions) , MTP, Number 1s. Simples.

So is "full webbing" no longer part of the uniform?

. . . like it apparently was during the Battle of Britain

Nailed it!

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....06963f277.jpeg

As the RAC patrol people have been wearing dayglo orange outfits with those fluorescent strips for years, possibly decades, I think it’s time this urban legend was consigned to the history books (or the dustbin). It may have been true of the 70s, possibly even the 80s, but it’s been a while since we wore the same/similar uniforms.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5432d3f56.jpeg

much smarter looking..
;)

But what about the the flying badges 'wings' etc, will they be sewn on, applied with Velcro or embroidered?

They will be replaced by the wording Pilot on the rank slides, as per the ones seen here... :E

Most sensible thing you've ever said.

https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1A&oe=62B0C9EF

Hat does look a little bit too small. 😊

For the day the new uniforms are launched, I'd be grateful if Right Said Fred would re-record "I'm Too Sexy" with these lyrics:

I'm too sexy for Typhoons,
Too Sexy for Typhoons,
Prancing round in pantaloons.

And I'm too sexy for your squadron,
Too sexy for your squadron,
Got my satin stable belt on.

Aviator, you know what I mean,
And I do my little turn on the taxiway,
Yeah on the taxiway,
I shake my massive tush on the taxiway.

I'm too sexy for my smock,
Too sexy for smock,
D'you think I look like Mr Spock?

And I'm too sexy for parades,
Too sexy for parades,
Sweety, do these come in other shades?

Aviator, you know what I mean,
And I do my little turn on the taxiway,
On the taxiway,
Yeah I shake my massive tush on the taxiway.
​​​​​​
(Repeat chorus and fade until howls of derision subside)

I wonder what she got the medals for...?

Fantastic rewrite, old chap! Thank you.

New uniforms? Inclusive and clearly ‘wiggy woke compliant’. 😉 glad to see we still have enough in the defence budget to even consider them.

During my time in the corridors of power (Soooo last century, I admit) even the use of the word ‘Uniform’ always caused great hilarity. The variations out there even then, were legion.



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....271868e43.jpeg

Nightfighter ops with a few low level missions... I think she was also on Operation Chastise and well and truly got the dam busted......

Bust is certainly dammed..

That reminds me of what I'd stumbled across in the 56(F) squadron mini-museum at the back of the briefing room at pre-pongo Wattisham. A WRAF Officer's No.1 best blue....plus a full set of black frilly underwear! On asking about this, I was told that a previous squadron mate had donated an inflatable 'love doll' for those lonely moments on detachments! But they used to smuggle it on board a VC10 or Herc, inflate it and dress it, then confuse the ALMs doing the head count.

At least, that's the gen I was given.

For BEagle's sake, can someone find a picture of Section Officer Maggie Harvey WAAF?

A chap at RAF Halton drove around the station on the weekend on his motorbike with a blow up doll on the back in a skin coloured bikini, the RAF and MOD Rossers set off in pursuit, unfortunately for them he led a merry dance and they were unable to catch him for many hours.... When they finally did and were about to arrest him, he asked what was the offence... they looked back and forth at each other, they then realised he had not actually done anything wrong, so had to let him go.

When I was but a boy my best friend had his 18th and his parents hired a hall, we got him a blow up doll like you do, and had it inflated with helium, it was put in a long weighted box, wrapped to perfection and put with the other gifts, come gift opening time the box was ripped open and she ascended into the heavens, ok up, to the double height ceiling, there to look down on his mortified parents and red faced son.. She spent the evening watching the festivities and one assumes the cleaners in the morning had a surprise.

Ahh such fun from long gone times, and I hope Andrew is looking down on me now and laughing about it, having been taken far to early.

Sorry for the thread drift, Beag's post just brought it all back.

Surely he doesn't need it? Like the rest of us, he can just project the picture on the wall ......... here goes .........

AAAaaaahhhh

I once worked on a TV pilot (as in test episode, not person who operate aircraft) which involved one of our prettier, younger actresses playing an RAF Flight Lieutenant.

She emerged from the costume trailer in number one service dress, hair bunned, tie knotted, slipping the jacket on, with a pronounced scowl and the words:

"I look like a little schoolboy."

And, yes. She did.

I preferred the old uniform.......

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....dfb8134bec.jpg

Those will play havoc with the wooden flooring.

It does however bring a new meaning to the phrase "I never rose above Flight Lieutenant"


..

Yup, basically that outfit. Only she actually wore the skirt...

My observation is that there is no way for any woman to wear that hat without looking like she's about to give someone a good hiding, whether that person wants it or not. Our actress refused to wear it.

Depends how many chins you have.