Gold Bars and Flying Suits
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.
I wave the Air Ambulance tin at Hi-vis wearers and invite a contribution. Explaining that it's an unofficial fine for offensive behaviour.
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I once witnessed a very attractive knickers and bra, size 8 climb out of a glider after a long cross country, poured a bottle of water over herself and said "warm isn't it".
Didn't notice any gold bars!
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I agree. Flip flops might slip off and get jammed behind a rudder pedal. That's why I'd never wear them in any aeroplane. Bare feet, however, are just fine and very enjoyable on the right day in the right aeroplane (an L4 with the side open on a warm summers day is 'right').
I remember Howard Hughes flew the Bristol Britannia with his bare toes curled around the rudder pedals, and Gordon Baxter of Bax Seat fame did the same in his Stearman. Frequently.
Are they 'bloody stupid' too?
I remember Howard Hughes flew the Bristol Britannia with his bare toes curled around the rudder pedals, and Gordon Baxter of Bax Seat fame did the same in his Stearman. Frequently.
Are they 'bloody stupid' too?
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On the subject of white shirt and gold bars, that didn't smooth things for Maurice Kirk in africa when he crash landed in South Sudan, he was locked up in prison for a while.
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here's what I think alright, and before anyone jumps to any conclusion - no I don't wear bars or suits... if a GA driver likes the corporate attire, if they want to look smart, if they like the feel of it, by all means do it.
We have guys dressing up as girls nowadays and marching in parades, we have old fat blokes wearing Lycra and riding bicycles, we have chubby moms wearing yoga pants with some of them never being near yoga studio.. all of that is fine? I bet some of you are reading this wearing your favorite sports team jersey, when was the last time you actually exercised?
yet it takes one poor chap to show up in your airfield with a clean shirt and bars, and you complete lose your minds.. you feel so outraged, you have to go on to the internet and express your disapproval as if nothing else is going on, oh my and what joy you get when you have 10-15 people agreeing to your rant.. day saved, thank you very much! You can now sit back and enjoy your afternoon tea, you mighty justice warrior!
We have guys dressing up as girls nowadays and marching in parades, we have old fat blokes wearing Lycra and riding bicycles, we have chubby moms wearing yoga pants with some of them never being near yoga studio.. all of that is fine? I bet some of you are reading this wearing your favorite sports team jersey, when was the last time you actually exercised?
yet it takes one poor chap to show up in your airfield with a clean shirt and bars, and you complete lose your minds.. you feel so outraged, you have to go on to the internet and express your disapproval as if nothing else is going on, oh my and what joy you get when you have 10-15 people agreeing to your rant.. day saved, thank you very much! You can now sit back and enjoy your afternoon tea, you mighty justice warrior!
Yes, well. If you dress as a professional there is an assumption that you will behave at least a bit like a professional.
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Martin_123, yeah, sports gear being worn when there's no chance any sport going on (track suit bottoms anyone?) is a pretty good indicator of chavism.
However, this is an aviation site, so it's inappropriate flight clothing that's getting popped at.
However, this is an aviation site, so it's inappropriate flight clothing that's getting popped at.
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you're right, this is an aviation site, not fashion site.. if clothing is such a big part of aviation, how come I don't see similar threads popping up about track suits and flip flops and whatever other atrocities people wear?
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I don't see similar threads popping up about track suits and flip flops and whatever other atrocities people wear?
I cringe when I see gold bars worn as described. I can understand carrying some when you are on a round the world trip but please take them off when you land back in Blighty...
Bars should only be worn when someone else (eg an employer) requires you to wear them. Even then, my IR instructor used to put them in his breast pocket - he felt a bit of a k*** climbing out a Seneca with them on.
Bars should only be worn when someone else (eg an employer) requires you to wear them. Even then, my IR instructor used to put them in his breast pocket - he felt a bit of a k*** climbing out a Seneca with them on.
yet it takes one poor chap to show up in your airfield with a clean shirt and bars, and you complete lose your minds.. you feel so outraged, you have to go on to the internet and express your disapproval as if nothing else is going on, oh my and what joy you get when you have 10-15 people agreeing to your rant.. day saved, thank you very much! You can now sit back and enjoy your afternoon tea, you mighty justice warrior!
Paul Bertorelli's comments linked earlier say it all. Or has he lost his mind too?
Last edited by FREDAcheck; 25th Aug 2017 at 12:16.
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Flying around the UK I think gold-bars, outside professional aviation activities, is not something which "enhances my opinion of the wearer".
On the subject of flight suits, however, I am more ambivalent - if I may compare it to riding a motorcycle...
I regularly see people riding in trainers, shorts and a tee-shirt - comfortable, but it's going to hurt if they come off.
Personally I always wear boots, motorcycle jacket and gloves, no matter how hot the weather - on longer journeys motorcycle trousers get added.
I also regularly see people on much lower performance machines, than I have, wearing full leathers - which seems a little excessive. That said, I don't sneer at those people in full leathers (as I go past them) - probably they are simply being more cautious than I am.
In the same way I'm not going to make fun of someone wearing a nomex flight suit and gloves in a spam can - many of them, again, are simply more cautious / being better prepared (in the event it all goes horribly wrong) than I am. Many who've come via the military (probably vastly more experienced and skilled than me) would feel horribly exposed without them.
(That said wearing badges, apart from a simple name badge, on the flight suit puts them, in my view, into the "gold-bar" brigade).
Personally, if I owned a flight suit (which I don't
), then I my clothing would suit the mission:
- Paid Instructing: Shiny shoes, black trousers, white shirt
- Gliding: Anything comfortable
- Spam-Cans: Anything comfortable that contains no man-made fibres
- Vintage (in particular those with fuel tank above my head): Nomex and gloves (plus goggles if open cockpit)
In none of these cases would bars, or badges, be displayed.
OC619
On the subject of flight suits, however, I am more ambivalent - if I may compare it to riding a motorcycle...
I regularly see people riding in trainers, shorts and a tee-shirt - comfortable, but it's going to hurt if they come off.
Personally I always wear boots, motorcycle jacket and gloves, no matter how hot the weather - on longer journeys motorcycle trousers get added.
I also regularly see people on much lower performance machines, than I have, wearing full leathers - which seems a little excessive. That said, I don't sneer at those people in full leathers (as I go past them) - probably they are simply being more cautious than I am.
In the same way I'm not going to make fun of someone wearing a nomex flight suit and gloves in a spam can - many of them, again, are simply more cautious / being better prepared (in the event it all goes horribly wrong) than I am. Many who've come via the military (probably vastly more experienced and skilled than me) would feel horribly exposed without them.
(That said wearing badges, apart from a simple name badge, on the flight suit puts them, in my view, into the "gold-bar" brigade).
Personally, if I owned a flight suit (which I don't
), then I my clothing would suit the mission:- Paid Instructing: Shiny shoes, black trousers, white shirt
- Gliding: Anything comfortable
- Spam-Cans: Anything comfortable that contains no man-made fibres
- Vintage (in particular those with fuel tank above my head): Nomex and gloves (plus goggles if open cockpit)
In none of these cases would bars, or badges, be displayed.
OC619
Thread Starter
The big difference between lycra, yoga pants, football shirts etc Martin 123 is that the gold bars are a badge of rank - denoting that the wearer is the Captain, whereas their First Officer wears either two or three bars. When the pilot's employer deems that particular pilot suitable for command, and they pass a command course, they are promoted and allowed to put up a fourth bar, which shows that they have been promoted from First Officer to Captain. Hope that helps.
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The big difference between lycra, yoga pants, football shirts etc Martin 123 is that the gold bars are a badge of rank - denoting that the wearer is the Captain, whereas their First Officer wears either two or three bars. When the pilot's employer deems that particular pilot suitable for command, and they pass a command course, they are promoted and allowed to put up a fourth bar, which shows that they have been promoted from First Officer to Captain. Hope that helps.