PPL Wings
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Massachusetts Bay Colony
Why are you trying to degenerate this into a growbags and epulettes thread?
I think that a flying school giving out wings to a student is a very nice touch, it is something tangible that shows that they have worked hard and achieved something that is out of the ordinary. I know places liek NSF at Sibson give out wings every year at the Wings Dinner.
Confab, Pitts, are you so mean hearted as to take that away from them?
2000hrs later I still have the wings I was presented, tucked away on my shelf and still feel proud of them. I wont be pinning them to a grow bag or 10 bar epulettes any time soon but I am proud of them.
I think that a flying school giving out wings to a student is a very nice touch, it is something tangible that shows that they have worked hard and achieved something that is out of the ordinary. I know places liek NSF at Sibson give out wings every year at the Wings Dinner.
Confab, Pitts, are you so mean hearted as to take that away from them?
2000hrs later I still have the wings I was presented, tucked away on my shelf and still feel proud of them. I wont be pinning them to a grow bag or 10 bar epulettes any time soon but I am proud of them.
It is funny how most people, myself included sometimes, are predisposed to initially presume maliciousness on other peoples' part rather than humour.
Pitts2112
Not going to bother with the smiley this time as they don't seem to work...
(couldn't help myself)
Last edited by Pitts2112; 3rd October 2006 at 21:47.
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 110
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From: Middle England
AH bose read your thread on flying the 172 at 17,000ft on oxygen for hours on end! Very impressive, however, why? and well the hell were you going?
Right then wings aside - (which are fine if its your bag) - whats the most rediculous get up you have ever seen someone flying in?
My winner was spotted at Kidlington and emerged from a Rallye wearing full flying suit with the white knee boards and assorted badges purchased from AFE catalogue, no less than three sets of wings, two cloth and one pin on metal, white gloves and a bone dome. Lengend! And big balls too to walk round dressed like that.
Right then wings aside - (which are fine if its your bag) - whats the most rediculous get up you have ever seen someone flying in?
My winner was spotted at Kidlington and emerged from a Rallye wearing full flying suit with the white knee boards and assorted badges purchased from AFE catalogue, no less than three sets of wings, two cloth and one pin on metal, white gloves and a bone dome. Lengend! And big balls too to walk round dressed like that.
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
AH bose read your thread on flying the 172 at 17,000ft on oxygen for hours on end! Very impressive, however, why? and well the hell were you going?
Right then wings aside - (which are fine if its your bag) - whats the most rediculous get up you have ever seen someone flying in?
My winner was spotted at Kidlington and emerged from a Rallye wearing full flying suit with the white knee boards and assorted badges purchased from AFE catalogue, no less than three sets of wings, two cloth and one pin on metal, white gloves and a bone dome. Lengend! And big balls too to walk round dressed like that.
Right then wings aside - (which are fine if its your bag) - whats the most rediculous get up you have ever seen someone flying in?
My winner was spotted at Kidlington and emerged from a Rallye wearing full flying suit with the white knee boards and assorted badges purchased from AFE catalogue, no less than three sets of wings, two cloth and one pin on metal, white gloves and a bone dome. Lengend! And big balls too to walk round dressed like that.
Hours on end in the airways, Menorca, Majorca, Prague, Annecy, Karlovy, Speyer to name but a few. A far cry from those early trips to Jersey and La Chassagne under the NSF wing. They seemed like such big hurdles in those days and would not have happened without NSF! I think that first Beyer trip gave me the bug!!!
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Middle England
MMMnnnnn that was a messy trip. What was that lurid green stuff in the jugs we were quaffing on arrival; that later got stolen from the kitchen when when had drunk them out of wine, port and Cognac?
Sounds like its time to buy a TBM 700, and when you do can I have a go?
Sounds like its time to buy a TBM 700, and when you do can I have a go?
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: UK,Twighlight Zone
MMMnnnnn that was a messy trip. What was that lurid green stuff in the jugs we were quaffing on arrival; that later got stolen from the kitchen when when had drunk them out of wine, port and Cognac?
Sounds like its time to buy a TBM 700, and when you do can I have a go?
Sounds like its time to buy a TBM 700, and when you do can I have a go?
Sold one of the companies so thinking something along the Meridian lines at the moment. You can come and check me out in it!!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Pembrokeshire, Wales
PPL Solo Flight
Hello Everyone
Just a quick question to be honest. I have gone solo today and was have a flying jacket but nothing on it. Are there any special wings that you can wear as a PPL Solo pilot or do you wear the actual PPL wings or not at all?
Many Thanks
G-BAYO
Just a quick question to be honest. I have gone solo today
and was have a flying jacket but nothing on it. Are there any special wings that you can wear as a PPL Solo pilot or do you wear the actual PPL wings or not at all?Many Thanks
G-BAYO
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 91
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From: SE England
Congratulations on your solo flight.
You have obviously read the preceding threads and the attitude of many to "badges of achievements". Assuming that yours is a genuine question, I regret to inform you that wings are not issued for a first solo.
You may wish to buy a set of wings after the issue of your PPL, but, as you can see, there is some feeling against this.
I only wear one insignia of achievement (and then only rarely, amongst consenting adults). It is my Silver C Gliding Badge. It took a long time and much effort, and I am prouder of that than anything else I have done in my flying career. It has little intrinsic value, but it is something that has to be earned.
PPL wings and epaulettes can be bought from any aviation 'chandlers' and even student pilots are now wearing them. No wonder requests such as yours are treated with scorn.
You have obviously read the preceding threads and the attitude of many to "badges of achievements". Assuming that yours is a genuine question, I regret to inform you that wings are not issued for a first solo.
You may wish to buy a set of wings after the issue of your PPL, but, as you can see, there is some feeling against this.
I only wear one insignia of achievement (and then only rarely, amongst consenting adults). It is my Silver C Gliding Badge. It took a long time and much effort, and I am prouder of that than anything else I have done in my flying career. It has little intrinsic value, but it is something that has to be earned.
PPL wings and epaulettes can be bought from any aviation 'chandlers' and even student pilots are now wearing them. No wonder requests such as yours are treated with scorn.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 696
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From: Bracknell, UK
Waltham do a great dinner night for the new crop of PPLs, IMCs and NQs - for the PPL, a natty little set of silver wings; for the IMC, the same but gold, and for the Night Qualification, they give you a torch. If you follow up with an Instructor Rating, they give you a tie and make you turn up at 8am on the dot.
Reading this, I had a horrible feeling I'd mislaid those little silver and gold badges (I know where the torch is) - but have just found them in with the dress-shirt studs and cufflinks. Never worn them apart from at the dinner night, but when I'm old, blind, deaf and dribbling, I hope those little bits of tin bring back the memories of what was, and what is yet to be.
On the front, the wings have the WLAC logo and motto. On the back, it says "BadgeMaster 01623 723 112"
Edited: Do'h. Didn't see the original posting date.
Reading this, I had a horrible feeling I'd mislaid those little silver and gold badges (I know where the torch is) - but have just found them in with the dress-shirt studs and cufflinks. Never worn them apart from at the dinner night, but when I'm old, blind, deaf and dribbling, I hope those little bits of tin bring back the memories of what was, and what is yet to be.
On the front, the wings have the WLAC logo and motto. On the back, it says "BadgeMaster 01623 723 112"
Edited: Do'h. Didn't see the original posting date.
Last edited by eharding; 13th February 2008 at 22:22.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4
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From: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Lovey thank you very much for your help
I'll just stick to my Cadet Solo wings then for the moment. I notice you say more and more student pilots are wearing insignia.
By that do you mean they are wearing epaulettes and wings even though they should not?
Regards
B-BAYO
I'll just stick to my Cadet Solo wings then for the moment. I notice you say more and more student pilots are wearing insignia.By that do you mean they are wearing epaulettes and wings even though they should not?
Regards
B-BAYO
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 66
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From: Kent UK
To take things a step further...
I am seriously considering getting a small, discrete, set of wings as a tattoo if I manage to qualify. Already had a friend of mine design it, although I may well chicken out. Don't have any tattoos now and as I will be 27 this year I am wondering whether I am coming out of the age bracket that is usually designated for this kind of thing.
Still, as permanent body art goes, it is certainly more appropriate than most of the stuff I see people with, and even if I don't end up flying my entire life, passing would still feel like an achievement worthy of this kind of recording.
Am I nuts?
I am seriously considering getting a small, discrete, set of wings as a tattoo if I manage to qualify. Already had a friend of mine design it, although I may well chicken out. Don't have any tattoos now and as I will be 27 this year I am wondering whether I am coming out of the age bracket that is usually designated for this kind of thing.
Still, as permanent body art goes, it is certainly more appropriate than most of the stuff I see people with, and even if I don't end up flying my entire life, passing would still feel like an achievement worthy of this kind of recording.
Am I nuts?
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Birmingham
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 731
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From: Surrey, England
Wings badges
Hi Guys,
I feel the presentation of a wings badge at a club night ceremony is a lovely idea. As has been said, it recognises real achievement and gives the new pilot something he/she may well cherish for ever. I still have my 'Association of British Aeroclubs' wings I obtained in 1960.
I also think it would be a good idea if people did wear their wings badges more when flying or when around the aerodrome, purely as a marketing ploy. Quite a lot of non-flyers frequent the flyers' club restaurants and to see people around wearing their wings might make them feel they wish they had some too. The more people we can tempt to take up flying the better it is for private flying. However, I must confess that I don't wear my own, purely because no one else does. But I still wish people would and then I would do so too.
As for the wings badges available over the counter, in my view they are without exception naff, ill designed and cheap looking. I also suspect that they should not really be displaying those distorted impressions of the St Edward's crown that most of them seem to have. I should have thought that should be confined to military wings.
My advice to the original poster would be to search on the Internet for a badge manufacturer, (there are lots of them), and have a really nice club wings badge made to order. I think you will find you don't have to order that many as a minimum order.
Broomstick.
I feel the presentation of a wings badge at a club night ceremony is a lovely idea. As has been said, it recognises real achievement and gives the new pilot something he/she may well cherish for ever. I still have my 'Association of British Aeroclubs' wings I obtained in 1960.
I also think it would be a good idea if people did wear their wings badges more when flying or when around the aerodrome, purely as a marketing ploy. Quite a lot of non-flyers frequent the flyers' club restaurants and to see people around wearing their wings might make them feel they wish they had some too. The more people we can tempt to take up flying the better it is for private flying. However, I must confess that I don't wear my own, purely because no one else does. But I still wish people would and then I would do so too.
As for the wings badges available over the counter, in my view they are without exception naff, ill designed and cheap looking. I also suspect that they should not really be displaying those distorted impressions of the St Edward's crown that most of them seem to have. I should have thought that should be confined to military wings.
My advice to the original poster would be to search on the Internet for a badge manufacturer, (there are lots of them), and have a really nice club wings badge made to order. I think you will find you don't have to order that many as a minimum order.
Broomstick.