Epaulettes
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Kent UK
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When my wife & I hire one of Blakes's finest to go boating on the Broads I wear a nice Captain's cap which looks really smart, with plenty of gold braid. Unfortunately no-one salutes me. Furthermore, I have seen many other Captains on the Broads and no-one salutes them either. Worse, they don't seem to mind! There's just no respect these days. So I have given it up. (Now if those little gift shops would only sell Admiral's hats................)
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hellfire Corner
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Some years ago, when I'd recently acquired a Commercial glider rating (ah, don't you just love the USA), it was decided for me that a good wind-up for certain club bores, beloved of their flying overalls, would be the sight of me in flying overall, complete with my bars from the day job (merchant navy). Joe Public's reaction as I was introduced 'this is ChampChamp and she'll be your instructor today' was amusing...but, better still..
...... it had the desired effect.
...... it had the desired effect.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I think that uniforms are great, everyone in the Village People wore one..... seriously though, unless you had to wear one - would you?
Last edited by wsmempson; 27th Jul 2006 at 11:05.
Join Date: Jul 2003
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A recent PPL holder at my club rented a C152 & flew to his wedding proudly sporting an RAF flying suit & a pair of rather white leather gloves. Curiously, in the wedding photos after the event, he was pictured outside the church wearing.....an RAF flying suit & white leather gloves 
Bet the bride was impressed.
Bet the bride was impressed.
Mess Your Passage
Join Date: May 2002
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Originally Posted by markflyer6580
You have got your name in big letters on the side of your yak mr flash
There are always other ways..........
Take box 2 for example.......
Hugs
f
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Lowey first of all congratulations on your PPL
As a seasoned veteran professional pilot can i tell you that a lot of people will laugh at you and your epaulettes. Some people take rank very seriously and its intersting to see that most who do have major social problems-- i will give you some examples--
My first job was as a co pilot and i had two rings i was very proud of them i liked to be accidentally seen in them if you know what i meant-- my pal at the time bet me £20 that i wouldnt wear my uniform to a night club in Birmingham.
I was a bit hsitant at first but £20 was a lot of money so off i went. During the evening a young lady came up to me and said in a very broad Bham accent "Excuse me are you a fuxxing sailor" ive never forgotten that and nevr worn my unifrom outside an airport since.
around 20 years ago there was avery odd fellow who was the manager of an airfield near Stratford upon Avon, an ex bankrupted second hand car dealer, a complete knob head if you know what i mean. i flew in an Aztec one day and he said to me and i quote word for word I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ONLY HAVE 3 STRIPES AS YOU ONLY HAVE A CPL-- I mean what had it got to do with him anyway even if i had stripes up my chuff but no this knob head always had something to say-- a typical airfield no all that new nothing--he even told me he was going to be checked out to fly the Vulcan that was on the airfield!!! a long with starting a service to London City with Otters I could write several book on the dick heads i have met in flying.
any way i digress this is my favourite
I did a charter to southend nad when the two punters returned to the aztec they were legless, could hardley stand. as i started the enigines they strated making various comments about the age of the aircraft etc. as i taxied out oine said this pilot has had a argument with his wife hes siuicidal and he is flying us home oh no(all druken bolox!) then one said to the other--hey hes only got three stripes, Capatains have four ask him why-- this was repaeted several times until i got to the holding point when one of them finally siad CAPTAIN you have only got three stripes-why? I turned calmy around to both of them and said I crashed an Aztec and killed 5 passengers and they took a stripe off me-- they both fell back into the seats and nevr moved or spoke again all evening!
My favourite is the liverpool night stop-- one particular captain always liked to stop for a drink after flying but in a local pub. this particular night we were staying in a hotel on the edge of Toxteth and its a brave fxxker that goes out there after dark-- any way the captain stops in the hire car at this very seedy lloking pub and the FO and himself take thir bars off just leaving thier ties and white shirts and go in. The whole pub stops, they carry on up to the bar and Dave asks for two pints of bitter . the landlord says fxxxk off you bastards we dont serve coppers and actually threw them out.
night everyone
As a seasoned veteran professional pilot can i tell you that a lot of people will laugh at you and your epaulettes. Some people take rank very seriously and its intersting to see that most who do have major social problems-- i will give you some examples--
My first job was as a co pilot and i had two rings i was very proud of them i liked to be accidentally seen in them if you know what i meant-- my pal at the time bet me £20 that i wouldnt wear my uniform to a night club in Birmingham.
I was a bit hsitant at first but £20 was a lot of money so off i went. During the evening a young lady came up to me and said in a very broad Bham accent "Excuse me are you a fuxxing sailor" ive never forgotten that and nevr worn my unifrom outside an airport since.
around 20 years ago there was avery odd fellow who was the manager of an airfield near Stratford upon Avon, an ex bankrupted second hand car dealer, a complete knob head if you know what i mean. i flew in an Aztec one day and he said to me and i quote word for word I AM GLAD TO SEE YOU ONLY HAVE 3 STRIPES AS YOU ONLY HAVE A CPL-- I mean what had it got to do with him anyway even if i had stripes up my chuff but no this knob head always had something to say-- a typical airfield no all that new nothing--he even told me he was going to be checked out to fly the Vulcan that was on the airfield!!! a long with starting a service to London City with Otters I could write several book on the dick heads i have met in flying.
any way i digress this is my favourite
I did a charter to southend nad when the two punters returned to the aztec they were legless, could hardley stand. as i started the enigines they strated making various comments about the age of the aircraft etc. as i taxied out oine said this pilot has had a argument with his wife hes siuicidal and he is flying us home oh no(all druken bolox!) then one said to the other--hey hes only got three stripes, Capatains have four ask him why-- this was repaeted several times until i got to the holding point when one of them finally siad CAPTAIN you have only got three stripes-why? I turned calmy around to both of them and said I crashed an Aztec and killed 5 passengers and they took a stripe off me-- they both fell back into the seats and nevr moved or spoke again all evening!
My favourite is the liverpool night stop-- one particular captain always liked to stop for a drink after flying but in a local pub. this particular night we were staying in a hotel on the edge of Toxteth and its a brave fxxker that goes out there after dark-- any way the captain stops in the hire car at this very seedy lloking pub and the FO and himself take thir bars off just leaving thier ties and white shirts and go in. The whole pub stops, they carry on up to the bar and Dave asks for two pints of bitter . the landlord says fxxxk off you bastards we dont serve coppers and actually threw them out.
night everyone
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London, England
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Don't bother dressing up like the President of Bongobongoland. 
If you want to be in Our Gang this is the cutting edge pilot's apparel you'll need...
Then you'll be really flash!
RD
If you want to be in Our Gang this is the cutting edge pilot's apparel you'll need...
Then you'll be really flash!
RD
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: uk
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And if you wear a uniform/epaulettes, the general public will expect you to know the precise location of every toilet in every airport terminal in europe. Excuses like "this is the first time I've ever been to this airport" will be met with a complete look of disbelief.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Hey guys, dont jest, it happens......
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1048092/L/
Sliding canopy = Fast Jet maybe?
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/1048092/L/
Sliding canopy = Fast Jet maybe?
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Bracknell, UK
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RD,
As the photograph shows, our heroic 52 driver has recently returned from the magical time & place in Flat Middle Earth when for one glorious weekend, all you have to do is pitch up in a Yak, jump out wearing your greasiest flying suit and hordes of scantily clad tot will ply you with food & drink and generally throw their underwear at you.....which is nice, particularly as I'd left the pitot cover behind, and one young lady was kind enough to supply a fine example of the aforementioned garment to wrap around the 52's pitot. Safety first, that's my motto.
As the photograph shows, our heroic 52 driver has recently returned from the magical time & place in Flat Middle Earth when for one glorious weekend, all you have to do is pitch up in a Yak, jump out wearing your greasiest flying suit and hordes of scantily clad tot will ply you with food & drink and generally throw their underwear at you.....which is nice, particularly as I'd left the pitot cover behind, and one young lady was kind enough to supply a fine example of the aforementioned garment to wrap around the 52's pitot. Safety first, that's my motto.
Mess Your Passage
Join Date: May 2002
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Is this the type of Tot you are talking about, EHarding of Berkshire UK?
Gosh it took soooo long to strap er in....
Gosh it took soooo long to strap er in....
Last edited by Flash0710; 31st Jul 2006 at 09:51.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Savannah GA & Portsmouth UK
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One is reminded of this bit of video. No epaulettes evident there either.
It seems churlishly pedantic to point out that a Tiger Moth is perhaps not a "World War II fighter plane".
It seems churlishly pedantic to point out that a Tiger Moth is perhaps not a "World War II fighter plane".