New RAF Uniforms
 

As I don't have to wear it and I'm no longer a UK taxpayer, I'll keep my less than complimentary views to myself.

No doubt I will be able to read some amusing comments though over the coming days !

Just appeared on ARRSE and Twiitter having been spotted on Whats App 13 Jun 22:

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....23c06742ec.png
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ec77770e59.png
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4eea2c97f9.png
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The polo shirt and the rolled up sleeve err... retainer straps are a new low.

My thoughts.
 

A few caveats before I pass judgment.

1. I spend 99.99% of my time at work in a flying suit.
2. This may well be a display of sample uniforms and may not be a final product (I genuinely have no idea).
3. I will have left before any of this hits the streets.

Now my thoughts.

On the whole I quite like the look of it.

I hate our current scratchy trousers and cheap shirts. None of it fits properly and it looks bargain basement.

A lot of the stuff on display (which may or may not end up being the final product) looks a lot more comfortable and practical than the current offering.

I suppose the only fault is that it is new and of course change is always a bad thing. Especially in Pprune world. I mean what would Trenchard say?!

BV

The only thing that is a good idea is the polo shirt, but the rank slide is in an awful place. Anyone who sits down to work will have a rank slide rubbing on their chin constantly.

Looks like something the French would wear....

TBM
 

Is that meant as a negative? Sartorially speaking I’d rather look French than follow current British trends.

BV

Exactly the same feelings BV. I think this offering is slightly better than the last. I wasn’t looking forward to wearing skintight Lycra, not at my age! Thank god for flying suits.
I’m standing by for the usual suspects who will no doubt be apoplectic with rage.

Some of it looks awful, with questionable contrasting colour details (reminiscent of the 'prison inmate' collection) but there are options within that bunch that are both ok to look at and have genuine practicality.

There are some whose flying suits apear to resemble Lycra!!

I quite like some of the options, definately more practical. The uniform I was wearing by the time I left in the 2010s was completely different from the one I was given when I joined in '86; in those days we had No2 Thunderbird Jackets, trousers with a flare and big collars, all a hangover from the 70s, early 80s. Uniform change all the time albeit in a more subtle manner.

Good start with some usable kit there, but why are they still pushing out the wedgewood blue shirt? I realize blunties have to wear something but times have changed.. ;)

Ah yes, the purists and pedants . A consistent demographic throughout time so your prophecy will be fulfilled.

They were shocked to the core when the infamous hairy battledress was, finally, declared obsolete...then came the "woolly pulley " saga... that dragged on for some time actually...and, for engineers, the introduction of R.N non slip safety shoes...first, they didn't polish up very well, and, second , there were no toe caps !!..both these of no consequence issues attracted their full wrath and indignation...blissfully ignoring the fact they were actually very safe and practical.

The stable belt ?..nope. We had a Sgt on the M.U who appeared one day wearing one, and, a chip hat. Given the M.U dress code differed from the rest of the RAF, it was no surprise to rapidly learn he was, well, "different " to the rest of us.

To be honest, it doesn't look that bad, also seems to have the advantage of not requiring the attention of something called an iron...my own encounters with this item were minimal you understand

All we need now is a contemporary version of the infamous S.A.C Bloggs haircut poster !

Popcorn time !

Question is have they made it all washable and not dry clean only. Those shirt loops look positively dangerous, working on machinery they could easily get caught in rotating items etc or even catch on things, plus they do not appear fit for purpose, will they not rub when sleeves are down?

One wonders how long it will take for a spoof branch of service to arrive under the rank tab..."RAF Drinking Tea" perhaps?

Having started with 'Hatry blues', hobnail boots, collar detached shirts and collar studs, braces and berets, there were a number of changes during my time. The introduction of the aircrew shirt was, initially, a huge success. They were made by Van Heusen and excellent quality. However, M o D decided to save money by contracting them out to Faulats of Belfast (the effect was so remarkable as to imprint the details !) Their major money saving ploy was to use "the incredible shrinking material" -such rubbish that even the shrinking quality differed throughout the garment ... sleeves came out of the wash in different lengths.!. One of my replacement shirts was made from two noticeably different materials, joined centrally !
I can only offer wishes of good luck to future wearers !

It has potential. Will be interesting to see in the flesh.

No sign of a hat though. Hopefully not introducing baseball caps. Personally I would abolish routine hat wearing.

Difficult to comment without knowing the context of the demo, (which looks kind of half-@rsed), but:

Trousers look practical.

Is a tie part of the range? If not, what's the point of the wedgewood long-sleeve, collared, shirt? What about a tangle-free bow-tie. Or a cravat might work.

Why the positive/negative contrasted long-sleeved shirts? (or are they jackets)? Do we get a choice? (Dark with pale front, or vice-versa).

Same as everyone on the rolled-up-sleeve-retainers.

Why complicate the rank-tabs with a trade specialisation? Won't this just complicate the logistics if Stores have to carry every rank in every specialisation? (Worst job I ever had was working in clothing stores at Spectrum Cloudbase HQ. Captain Scarlet comes in wanting a replacement cap. "Sorry Captain, I've got scarlet caps in every size except six-and-seven-eighths. But I do have your size in green, blue, white, taupe ......).

The other question is why a stable belt, uncomfortable in hot weather and restrictive, just what you need on a working dress, a great big buckle to scratch everything in sight when working in confined areas. and as for the dark blue collar, they are already on the coveralls, so why put them on the shirt?

And again on the working dress, rank slide on the front and fwd sticking out tabs on the cuffs that could get caught in rotating machinery, leaning over a lathe etc.
Slide ranks on the shoulders can be seen from every direction, on the front and one arm, from two.

It would make sense for one of the arm pockets to have a window in it for carrying your ID / Airside pass when working airside.

..

Need to see them on 'real' people to get an idea of what they will look like in day to day wear, but first impressions are 'better than the Thunderbirds renders shown recently'.

I suspect these are proof of concept pieces, so hopefully things like the dangly sleeve retainers and the rank slide on the polo shirt (have it on the lowest button) can be sorted out

Same here, apart from PPE, I've yet to hear of a good reason for routinely wearing headdress. In No1s fine, otherwise?

Well having joined in 1960 and put up with old style battle dress and scratchy trousers and the various iterations of the T63 with stay bright buttons, (still got my button stick) +chip bag hat. The new style looks fine by me