Blue Pullovers and Gold Stripes
Not so N, but still FG
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,417
Likes: 0
From: London, UK
Fighter pilots who had their lookout affected by wearing a tie were unable to report this fact on the grounds of being dead.
The spotted cravats, scarves etc sported by pilots of WW2 were adopted in substitution for collars and ties, as it was uncomfortable to wear a collar and tie whilst constantly craning your head around to check the sky behind you. You could stuff your collar and tie into a pocket or a boot in order to be properly dressed if visiting someone else's mess for a swift half and a few gallons of fuel on the way back from splashing the boche (ditto the hat, which explains why Pilot Officer Prune's hat was always so crumpled and battered, as he had to visit several stations on the way home, with a pint at each one, on the occasions when not pranged, as he would invariably be shot up, out of fuel, and lost).
Back on thread: gold bars, uniforms etc: joke! Any PPL stude who chooses a school on the basis of how the instructors are dressed deserves to suffer from "crippling fear" or at least "crippling ridicule" in the cockpit.
The spotted cravats, scarves etc sported by pilots of WW2 were adopted in substitution for collars and ties, as it was uncomfortable to wear a collar and tie whilst constantly craning your head around to check the sky behind you. You could stuff your collar and tie into a pocket or a boot in order to be properly dressed if visiting someone else's mess for a swift half and a few gallons of fuel on the way back from splashing the boche (ditto the hat, which explains why Pilot Officer Prune's hat was always so crumpled and battered, as he had to visit several stations on the way home, with a pint at each one, on the occasions when not pranged, as he would invariably be shot up, out of fuel, and lost).
Back on thread: gold bars, uniforms etc: joke! Any PPL stude who chooses a school on the basis of how the instructors are dressed deserves to suffer from "crippling fear" or at least "crippling ridicule" in the cockpit.
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne
Gold Bars ect. Was neither intimidated or impressed by them. Chose the flying school on merit rather than dress sense.
I think that a UNIFORM should be just that, same across company. one in all in.
My best ever instructor was a farmer and dressed up just a little for his students. Not only was he a great pilot but a great teacher.
Hey you should visit one company here in Australia where they insist that commercial students wear bars and uniforms from day one. Now they wouldn't get my money!
I think that a UNIFORM should be just that, same across company. one in all in.
My best ever instructor was a farmer and dressed up just a little for his students. Not only was he a great pilot but a great teacher.
Hey you should visit one company here in Australia where they insist that commercial students wear bars and uniforms from day one. Now they wouldn't get my money!
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: UK
Some of the best instructors I have flown with were current/retired airline captains (some exRAF) who also flew light aircraft regularly. To a man they all dressed casually - some very casually indeed. There was not a tie in sight.
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,402
Likes: 858
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Only in dreadful working class state schools would a teacher dress in such a manner....
One finds getting one's headset over one's mortar board a right bug.ger. One's gown and hood take up too much space in the average light aeroplane as well!
One finds getting one's headset over one's mortar board a right bug.ger. One's gown and hood take up too much space in the average light aeroplane as well!
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 527
Likes: 72
From: Mycenae
Some of us don't have a choice
School I worked at insisted on a uniform that included epaulettes and a tie. Failure to wear either resulted in being sent home and loosing a day's holiday/pay.
Regardless of whether you think we looked like pratts getting into our C152s to teach S&L with them on, we'd look a damn sight sillier if we lost our jobs over them wouldn't we. I can't see how you'd be taking the piss by turning up in your band masters uniform Beagle, any more than I would turning up at your secret airfield in a growbag to fly an airliner.
My own choice of uniform would be dark jeans, polo shirts, a warm fleece and a waterproof jacket but I don't pay the wages.
ps on hot days we could take our ties off
Regardless of whether you think we looked like pratts getting into our C152s to teach S&L with them on, we'd look a damn sight sillier if we lost our jobs over them wouldn't we. I can't see how you'd be taking the piss by turning up in your band masters uniform Beagle, any more than I would turning up at your secret airfield in a growbag to fly an airliner.
My own choice of uniform would be dark jeans, polo shirts, a warm fleece and a waterproof jacket but I don't pay the wages.
ps on hot days we could take our ties off
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,443
Likes: 1
From: Cambridge, England, EU
A good reason for the gold stripes ...
... if I believe the guy who was lecturing to us last night, is that when you find yourself at a "real" airport it's a lot easier to talk yourself back airside if you look like a pilot.
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Midlands
doesn't always work. I've been to a few International airports dressed in full dry suit rig etc. and not been able to get back to the aircraft. Infact at one airport I was prevented from leaving the terminal by armed police!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: uk
Whats up with you guys!! I want my instructor to look smart and professional. Hopefully their attitude towards their work will be the same aswell!!!!
Fair enough about the gold stripes- I think its rather sad too!!!
What I find the most annoying is CLUB MEMBERS and STUDENTS who dress themselves as INSTRUCTOR-INCLUDING BLUE PULLOVER AND BLACK TIE!!! NOW THEY ARE SAD!!!!!
Fair enough about the gold stripes- I think its rather sad too!!!
What I find the most annoying is CLUB MEMBERS and STUDENTS who dress themselves as INSTRUCTOR-INCLUDING BLUE PULLOVER AND BLACK TIE!!! NOW THEY ARE SAD!!!!!
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 1
What I find the most annoying is CLUB MEMBERS and STUDENTS who dress themselves as INSTRUCTOR-INCLUDING BLUE PULLOVER AND BLACK TIE!!! NOW THEY ARE SAD!!!!!
Student was told by the ops desk to check with an instructor about going solo, student then went to instructor like looking chap with 5 hours under his belt and asked if it was ok for solo today. Said chap was all chuffed someone asked his opinion said yes of course wx is wonderful. Student goes off by themselves.
20mins later all hell lets loose when ops discover student is flying without an auth signature.
Fair enough in a commercial school where everyone knows that a uniform doesn't mean anything. But PPL school no way, the only real reason for a uniform at a PPL school is to allow the instructors to be different from the students thus students shouldn't wear anything even near instructor looking garb. Especially in large schools where there are lots of instructors and students who's paths might only cross once evey couple of months.
Imust admit some uniforms get a bit much CABAIR comes to mind but i actually prefer the PRIMARK chino's and white shirt (tie optional on time of year and personal choice) with fleece but no bars on the shirt. And its compulsory to have a pair of manky shoes, costs way to much ruining good shoes with !!!!e off the back of the rudder pedals staining and shagging them. If any abuse comes from the student you can always offer to lend them to them for a fee as the shoes had about 800 hours more than the student and might help them go solo
MJ
