Gold Bars and Flying Suits
Thread Starter
Bit touchy aren't you Martin 123? Are you a 'grow bag and gold bars' kind of guy? Personally, I completely understand wearing a flying suit when flying an old biplane or warbird, and certainly see the logic in wearing a uniform with gold bars in many parts of the world - it's what the natives expect the Captain of an aeroplane to wear, and does make dealing with officials easier.
However, a flying suit with gold bars looks odd - combine the look with a single engine piston and it just looks silly. IMHO of course.
However, a flying suit with gold bars looks odd - combine the look with a single engine piston and it just looks silly. IMHO of course.
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4 gold bars
I pays my money and wears what I want. 4 gold bars, Pilot shirts, the lot. What is important is that I have never bent any metal or infringed, am competent and safe. I have a healthy respect for air law and fly within the limits of mine and the aircraft's capability. Many of my flights are over 100 nm and involve flying overwater to countries outside the UK FIR. Those are the things that matter and impact 3rd parties if I get it wrong. Its my prerogative to wear how many gold bars I feel like. I don't see sports fans being constantly lambasted for wearing team colours. It must be a pilot thing . . . No wonder general aviation is declining when the young see that the aviation scene is dominated with such miserable old farts . . .
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I pays my money and wears what I want. 4 gold bars, Pilot shirts, the lot. What is important is that I have never bent any metal or infringed, am competent and safe. I have a healthy respect for air law and fly within the limits of mine and the aircraft's capability. Many of my flights are over 100 nm and involve flying overwater to countries outside the UK FIR. Those are the things that matter and impact 3rd parties if I get it wrong. Its my prerogative to wear how many gold bars I feel like. I don't see sports fans being constantly lambasted for wearing team colours. It must be a pilot thing . . . No wonder general aviation is declining when the young see that the aviation scene is dominated with such miserable old farts . . .
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I pays my money and wears what I want. 4 gold bars, Pilot shirts, the lot. What is important is that I have never bent any metal or infringed, am competent and safe. I have a healthy respect for air law and fly within the limits of mine and the aircraft's capability. Many of my flights are over 100 nm and involve flying overwater to countries outside the UK FIR. Those are the things that matter and impact 3rd parties if I get it wrong. Its my prerogative to wear how many gold bars I feel like. I don't see sports fans being constantly lambasted for wearing team colours. It must be a pilot thing . . . No wonder general aviation is declining when the young see that the aviation scene is dominated with such miserable old farts . . .
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It all depends on when and where. Summer country remote field flying bars are a joke, while they might help pass sec in 10min instead of 2h at Gdansk ...
Always nice to see is Pauls comments: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6q2VKsvQEQ
Always nice to see is Pauls comments: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f6q2VKsvQEQ
Thread Starter
"Its my prerogative to wear how many gold bars I feel like."
Indeed it is - you do know some pilot suppliers now sell five bars? They look really cool......
".....and involve flying overwater."
If you're 100nm over the water in a SEP I'd be more concerned about wearing a life jacket than gold bars! Again, all IMHO of course.
Indeed it is - you do know some pilot suppliers now sell five bars? They look really cool......
".....and involve flying overwater."
If you're 100nm over the water in a SEP I'd be more concerned about wearing a life jacket than gold bars! Again, all IMHO of course.
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Gold bars and flying suits in a spam can??? One word: Pretentious.
Of course, everyone has the right to be pretentious if they like. Just don't moan about it if that pretentiousness is pointed out.
And in my experience (and that's all it is - nothing more) I've observed that such folk might perhaps be compensating for not being entirely on top of their game.
Of course, everyone has the right to be pretentious if they like. Just don't moan about it if that pretentiousness is pointed out.
And in my experience (and that's all it is - nothing more) I've observed that such folk might perhaps be compensating for not being entirely on top of their game.
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When flying I don't usually try and dress up to look like a Pilot although I confess to once wearing my NASA T shirt and feeling self conscious.
I think I got away with it though as when exiting the plane I covered it up by donning my Hi Viz (not one of those vests but a rather nice padded number with long sleeves, pockets, zip and a hood).
Middle of Summer - sweltering.
I think I got away with it though as when exiting the plane I covered it up by donning my Hi Viz (not one of those vests but a rather nice padded number with long sleeves, pockets, zip and a hood).
Middle of Summer - sweltering.
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I have a very strong opinion here :
The chap that hand flies a Piper Cub in 15 kts gusty winds, in rain and hail and snow, for 3 hrs deserves the flying suit and the gold bars and all the lot.
The (ahum) Captain that just landed a 747 at whatever International airport deserves neither the flying suit nor the bars. He's not a pilot but a computer programmer that "accidently" (because he "had" to) took the yoke 30 seconds before landing.
Only the "hand-flying chap" knows what flying really is.
The chap that hand flies a Piper Cub in 15 kts gusty winds, in rain and hail and snow, for 3 hrs deserves the flying suit and the gold bars and all the lot.
The (ahum) Captain that just landed a 747 at whatever International airport deserves neither the flying suit nor the bars. He's not a pilot but a computer programmer that "accidently" (because he "had" to) took the yoke 30 seconds before landing.
Only the "hand-flying chap" knows what flying really is.
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Once shared a house with a guy who had to wear a suit at work. He'd come home in the evening and change into jeans and T-shirt to go out on the piss. I'd come home in the evening and change into a suit to go out on the piss.
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Ahhh this subject gets its annual outing , I did see a boke in a microlight with the flying overalls and the four gold bars on each shoulder ...... I was just surprised that the thing could get off the ground carrying the gaudey apparel and his ego.
In my mind you're trying to come off as somebody who's more qualified then they really are.
There are laws against impersonating police, fire department, ambulance personell but unfortunately there are no laws for impersonating professional career pilots.
When enrolled in a career flight training course wear a uniform as long as it's not anything that makes you look like you've dressed up as airline captain.
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I don't wear gold bars, never would, haven't earned them. I spent too long being forced to wear a flying suit to now do it voluntarily.
However, I don't give a monkey's muff what anyone else wears.
Nice to have the summer gold bars thread, though. When's the kneeboard one due?
However, I don't give a monkey's muff what anyone else wears.
Nice to have the summer gold bars thread, though. When's the kneeboard one due?