What To Wear When Flying!!!!
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Sky TV' s documentary channels, eg Discovery, occasionally have aviation related programmes. Many cover the period when the UK was a country to be proud of and feature the development of new military and commercial aircraft. Almost invariably as the test pilot strides out to give the first flight to some world leading piece of advanced technology he is properly dressed in sports coat and flannels, with shirt and tie, or a dark suit. Which would seem entirely suitable for a 152
When going into the spare room to use FS2002, I believe one should prepare properly for the sortie.
Firstly, expensive Egyptian cotton underwear to wick away any perspiration from a possibly challenging approach. Then, a crisp starched white shirt with pointed collar and short sleeves. As I have recently graduated from FS2000, I have awarded myself a fourth ring on the epaulettes. A thin black tie, dark slacks and a barathea double breast with gold buttons is, I believe, particularly sartorial. A black peaked cap with accompanying braid completes the ensemble.
Finally, a quality leather briefcase to match Church brogues and I am ready.
I can't possibly see how the above would not also be appropriate for a circuit or two in a 152 or PA28. Standards ladies and gentlemen, standards!
Firstly, expensive Egyptian cotton underwear to wick away any perspiration from a possibly challenging approach. Then, a crisp starched white shirt with pointed collar and short sleeves. As I have recently graduated from FS2000, I have awarded myself a fourth ring on the epaulettes. A thin black tie, dark slacks and a barathea double breast with gold buttons is, I believe, particularly sartorial. A black peaked cap with accompanying braid completes the ensemble.
Finally, a quality leather briefcase to match Church brogues and I am ready.
I can't possibly see how the above would not also be appropriate for a circuit or two in a 152 or PA28. Standards ladies and gentlemen, standards!
G.A. flying clothing ?
Lifejacket if flying over water, cap - to keep sun out of eyes ( unless flying the 747, in which case Mr. Boeing provides a perfectly useful sunshade ) shirt and trousers with lots of useful -and reachable - pockets to now hold pocket GPS, phone, small circular computer ( slide rule ) pens etc.
Entering the flight deck told the crew that this was 'our' office, remove whatever item of clothing one wished, personally I threw the tie and jacket into a corner straightaway and inserted one of those small washcloths from the passenger toilet inside my shirt collar to absorb the sweat and avoid having to button up a clammy collar at the end of the trip, looked a prat, but who cares - was my office, entry only by invitation.
QED
Lifejacket if flying over water, cap - to keep sun out of eyes ( unless flying the 747, in which case Mr. Boeing provides a perfectly useful sunshade ) shirt and trousers with lots of useful -and reachable - pockets to now hold pocket GPS, phone, small circular computer ( slide rule ) pens etc.
Entering the flight deck told the crew that this was 'our' office, remove whatever item of clothing one wished, personally I threw the tie and jacket into a corner straightaway and inserted one of those small washcloths from the passenger toilet inside my shirt collar to absorb the sweat and avoid having to button up a clammy collar at the end of the trip, looked a prat, but who cares - was my office, entry only by invitation.
QED
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this is the funniest thread on here!
St Hellier are you winding us up? If so please be my friend. If not I suggest a few more nights out the house!
Please post some thing else of equal entertainment.
How to walk along the apron might be a good one? A swift swagger, rayban aviators at the ready and enough quiff to make arnold rimmer look like an amateur!
Smoke me a kipper ill be back for Breakfast!
St Hellier are you winding us up? If so please be my friend. If not I suggest a few more nights out the house!
Please post some thing else of equal entertainment.
How to walk along the apron might be a good one? A swift swagger, rayban aviators at the ready and enough quiff to make arnold rimmer look like an amateur!
Smoke me a kipper ill be back for Breakfast!
Join Date: Apr 2002
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How a wicked witch dresses for flying
Hi Guys,
As you all know, I currently fly a Mk 1 Besom. For this purpose, I have always worn a tall pointy hat, a long black cloak and hob-nail boots.
This year, however, I have treated myself to the latest flying kit. The tall pointy hat is one of the latest ones made from Kevlar with built in sun visor and spaces either side to fit my Bose Xs. The long black cloak is made from Nomex II and the boots? Well actually they are just ordinary MOD issue leather amunition boots as on the Besom my feet have to double as main undercarriage members. (The Mk 1 Besom is of course a tail-dragger).
Why have I bought such modern flying kit? Well I'll let you into a secret. Later this year, all being well, I am moving up onto jets - the Dyson vacuum cleaner no less.
'Trouble is, my cat is now pestering me for a Nomex cat suit, complete with first officer's bars and a flight engineer's wings badge! 'Has ideas above his station that one.
Wish me luck!
Broomstick.
As you all know, I currently fly a Mk 1 Besom. For this purpose, I have always worn a tall pointy hat, a long black cloak and hob-nail boots.
This year, however, I have treated myself to the latest flying kit. The tall pointy hat is one of the latest ones made from Kevlar with built in sun visor and spaces either side to fit my Bose Xs. The long black cloak is made from Nomex II and the boots? Well actually they are just ordinary MOD issue leather amunition boots as on the Besom my feet have to double as main undercarriage members. (The Mk 1 Besom is of course a tail-dragger).
Why have I bought such modern flying kit? Well I'll let you into a secret. Later this year, all being well, I am moving up onto jets - the Dyson vacuum cleaner no less.
'Trouble is, my cat is now pestering me for a Nomex cat suit, complete with first officer's bars and a flight engineer's wings badge! 'Has ideas above his station that one.
Wish me luck!
Broomstick.
I actually think it's a very reasonable thing to consider. For the day job I wear a bonedome, nomex growbag, boots and gloves; on my days off I wouldn't think about wearing that for recreational flying but should I really wear short sleeves, no gloves and no head protection; or should I think about it a bit more?
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If you don't wear a pointy hat etc
Hi J.A.F.O.
Being serious about it, I reckon each pilot has to make a value judgement based on a balance of comfort, practicality, risk and cost.
If all the flying you do is 12 hours a year in a Pa28, then you may as well stick to your third best street clothing.
If you fly professionally, the company will insist you wear a natty looking (but cheap) uniform. (One thing that concerns me is the silly uniforms instructors are so often required to wear these days, bearing in mind the inherently hazardous work they do. These uniforms are made of synthetic fabrics that, in the event of fire, will melt onto the skin and burn like a torch. Personally, I would give all instructors Nomex gear).
At the other end of the scale, if you are a military pilot or fly hundreds of hours annually, perhaps crop dusting or doing some other hazardous occupation, then you really need the whole works, bone dome with oxygen mask, leather boots, Nomex grow-bag, scarf, wrist covering and socks, and Nomex or leather gloves.
In terms of practicality, wherever there are aeroplanes there is oil, petrol, hydraulic fluid, sharp protrusions and mud. So you don't want to be wearing your Sunday best. You also need to take into account the weather and temperatures you will be working in.
So overall, each of us needs to know what is available to choose from and then choose with common sense.
Broomstick.
Being serious about it, I reckon each pilot has to make a value judgement based on a balance of comfort, practicality, risk and cost.
If all the flying you do is 12 hours a year in a Pa28, then you may as well stick to your third best street clothing.
If you fly professionally, the company will insist you wear a natty looking (but cheap) uniform. (One thing that concerns me is the silly uniforms instructors are so often required to wear these days, bearing in mind the inherently hazardous work they do. These uniforms are made of synthetic fabrics that, in the event of fire, will melt onto the skin and burn like a torch. Personally, I would give all instructors Nomex gear).
At the other end of the scale, if you are a military pilot or fly hundreds of hours annually, perhaps crop dusting or doing some other hazardous occupation, then you really need the whole works, bone dome with oxygen mask, leather boots, Nomex grow-bag, scarf, wrist covering and socks, and Nomex or leather gloves.
In terms of practicality, wherever there are aeroplanes there is oil, petrol, hydraulic fluid, sharp protrusions and mud. So you don't want to be wearing your Sunday best. You also need to take into account the weather and temperatures you will be working in.
So overall, each of us needs to know what is available to choose from and then choose with common sense.
Broomstick.
Broomstick
I agree absolutely; for work I fly hundreds of hours a year in some pretty stupid conditions therefore the company insists I wear the full monty and I do quite happily.
I don't fly anywhere near that recreationally and I tend to do sunny days, up relatively high so I don't wear all that gear (plus I'd feel an ar$e flying a PA28 in that get up) but I do wear cotton stuff and try to remember the gloves.
StillTraining - No, never mind, the name says it all.
PhilSpace - Somehow I don't think your suggestion would suit me.
I agree absolutely; for work I fly hundreds of hours a year in some pretty stupid conditions therefore the company insists I wear the full monty and I do quite happily.
I don't fly anywhere near that recreationally and I tend to do sunny days, up relatively high so I don't wear all that gear (plus I'd feel an ar$e flying a PA28 in that get up) but I do wear cotton stuff and try to remember the gloves.
StillTraining - No, never mind, the name says it all.
PhilSpace - Somehow I don't think your suggestion would suit me.
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Natural Fabrics
Hi J.A.F.O.
May I suggest you would be better wearing wool than cotton. Cotton is a plant fibre and also burns like a torch.
Wool is an animal fibre and will just shrivvel if burned.
If you really like wearing cotton, I believe there are simple, water-based processes you can put it through that will reduce its burn-ability. Maybe the cotton trade associations can advise on these.
There is a product called MSI Firecheck that can apparently make cotton fire-resistent, but I know almost nothing about it and don't know whether it is suitable for use on clothing. There should be details somewhere on the Internet.
Fly safely.
Regards,
Broomstick.
May I suggest you would be better wearing wool than cotton. Cotton is a plant fibre and also burns like a torch.
Wool is an animal fibre and will just shrivvel if burned.
If you really like wearing cotton, I believe there are simple, water-based processes you can put it through that will reduce its burn-ability. Maybe the cotton trade associations can advise on these.
There is a product called MSI Firecheck that can apparently make cotton fire-resistent, but I know almost nothing about it and don't know whether it is suitable for use on clothing. There should be details somewhere on the Internet.
Fly safely.
Regards,
Broomstick.
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Thansk BSP I will check that product out to see if it is something we can use.
Having seen the new starpilot's Pop Video I am thinking of adding plane-wash bikinis to the Aero-ist range, do you think there is a market?
Having seen the new starpilot's Pop Video I am thinking of adding plane-wash bikinis to the Aero-ist range, do you think there is a market?
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The name of the cotton flame retardent material is Proban,used in some forms of motorsport,not as hot to wear as Nomex.
These look good value.
Dickies Proban Flame Retardent Overalls, WD4869, Flame Retardent Overalls
Lister
These look good value.
Dickies Proban Flame Retardent Overalls, WD4869, Flame Retardent Overalls
Lister
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Day-time, low-level operations
Hi Wessex Boy,
I really don't know about the general market. Being a wicked witch I can only comment from the point of view of the nasty magic market. Normally, I fly by night high above the streets of Slough on my Mk1 Besom scattering wicked spells.
However, that bikini looks like a good idea and might make day-time, low-level operations worth considering. Just imagine a wicked witch several hundred years old, wearing nothing but her pointy hat and a bright green bikini, riding up and down the streets of Slough at street level in broad daylight scattering nasty spells! And wait 'till I get a Dyson vacuum cleaner to ride on!
Splendid idea! Truly great magic!
Broomstick.
Having seen the new starpilot's Pop Video I am thinking of adding plane-wash bikinis to the Aero-ist range, do you think there is a market?
However, that bikini looks like a good idea and might make day-time, low-level operations worth considering. Just imagine a wicked witch several hundred years old, wearing nothing but her pointy hat and a bright green bikini, riding up and down the streets of Slough at street level in broad daylight scattering nasty spells! And wait 'till I get a Dyson vacuum cleaner to ride on!
Splendid idea! Truly great magic!
Broomstick.
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Lister's post
Hi Wessex Boy,
Actually, Lister Noble's right; I must confess I had forgotten about Proban.
However, that means buying new kit made anew from Proban cotton.
When I mentioned those cotton treatments I was assuming you wanted to treat items of existing kit, such as a cotton grow-bag that might be expensive to replace.
Regards,
Broomstick.
Actually, Lister Noble's right; I must confess I had forgotten about Proban.
However, that means buying new kit made anew from Proban cotton.
When I mentioned those cotton treatments I was assuming you wanted to treat items of existing kit, such as a cotton grow-bag that might be expensive to replace.
Regards,
Broomstick.
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Also Wadner1, while we've got your attention.....
.....your text has been copied and pasted form one thread to the next. You might have tidied up the grammar and spelling in the interim! 
So that would make a total of 15 or so? Cheese us, that would quite spoil the M&B of my poor microlight. Remember epaulettes must be pure gold to be of any significance!
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A pair of those cotton trousers with the big pockets on the side (can't remember what they're called now, is it cargo trousers?) are handy. As has already been said, you can't have too many pockets/penholders. I know it may sound daft but unless you have a kneeboard already you can be stuck for a place to put a pen, and you need a pen/writing implement when flying.