Clothing
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 62
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From: uk
What about those white kid-leather flying gloves that a few people wear whilst flying. What's the view on those - are they posey or useful to stop sweaty hands from slipping on the stick whilst in that knife-edge manoervre? (?sp?)
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
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From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Tried and tested on long flights (10 hours on the Dawn to Dusk):
Comfortable trousers that unzip to become shorts; nice if weather is likely to change.
T-shirt in a dark colour - impossible to do an A check properly, re-fuel etc, and still keep a white one even relatively clean.
A jacket you can take on and off easily; it can be warm in the air and cold and windy on the ground.
Above all clothes you feel comfortable in, in all ways. If image is important to you, you won't be able to convince yourself it isn't, so find a way to be physically comfortable and look how you want to look. If you really don't care, that's fine, and makes it a whole lot easier.
And if you fly an R22, you can't take anything on or off one-handed, so you have to get used to being too hot or too cold, and just ignore it.
Comfortable trousers that unzip to become shorts; nice if weather is likely to change.
T-shirt in a dark colour - impossible to do an A check properly, re-fuel etc, and still keep a white one even relatively clean.
A jacket you can take on and off easily; it can be warm in the air and cold and windy on the ground.
Above all clothes you feel comfortable in, in all ways. If image is important to you, you won't be able to convince yourself it isn't, so find a way to be physically comfortable and look how you want to look. If you really don't care, that's fine, and makes it a whole lot easier.
And if you fly an R22, you can't take anything on or off one-handed, so you have to get used to being too hot or too cold, and just ignore it.
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 306
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From: UK Work: London. Home: East Anglia
The RAF cape leather gloves are indeed super-grippy and in the more sharp-edged military-format cockpits they do provide protection from various monor but disproportionately bloody scrapes and gouges that I otherwise seem to incur, without making the wearer excessively clumsy. They also keep the cold off to a certain degree. For me they're worth wearing in a Pitts / Moth / Yak type environment for local flights, but in the Archer, where I'm spending a lot more time twiddling knobs, I go gloveless.
When used on the above mentioned aerobatic types, they will also quickly pick oil stains, but I gather a certain patina is expected in these matters (shades of the USAAC's "50-mission crushed caps"!)
When used on the above mentioned aerobatic types, they will also quickly pick oil stains, but I gather a certain patina is expected in these matters (shades of the USAAC's "50-mission crushed caps"!)
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Cheshire
Well here goes, this is my flying wardrobe for flying Pipers :
1. Short sleeve Ben Sherman style shirts
2. Pair of Levis
3. Trainers or Timberland shoes
4. Berghaus fleece for when it's chilly
All this talk of wearing fire proof gear is sensible, but really, do we wear flame proof clothes in our car in case of a fire ( I've seen a lot more cars crashed and on fire than aircraft ) or a helmet to protect us from the windscreen in a crash ........No
As for Irvin jackets in a 172 or gold bars , one word springs to mind ................ Tosser !
1. Short sleeve Ben Sherman style shirts
2. Pair of Levis
3. Trainers or Timberland shoes
4. Berghaus fleece for when it's chilly
All this talk of wearing fire proof gear is sensible, but really, do we wear flame proof clothes in our car in case of a fire ( I've seen a lot more cars crashed and on fire than aircraft ) or a helmet to protect us from the windscreen in a crash ........No
As for Irvin jackets in a 172 or gold bars , one word springs to mind ................ Tosser !
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: EGLD
As a 21st centurary man, I don't feel ashamed in a skirt but I do find it difficult to find one that matches the colour of the planes at my club. Ops can't always tell me which plane they'll allocate me ahead of time and I've had some terrible fashion disasters recently.
I've also got a rather slinky, black, off-the-shoulder number with a large split up the side. Problem is I have to 'hitch' it up to climb on the wing and having hairy legs it can be a bit unsightly.
-S
I've also got a rather slinky, black, off-the-shoulder number with a large split up the side. Problem is I have to 'hitch' it up to climb on the wing and having hairy legs it can be a bit unsightly.
-S
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
From: Midlands
Gloves
Those 'posey gloves' have military origins - designed to afford a degree of protection in a fire.
THey are completely unecessary in my view in a modern cockpit in the summer - airline pilots would wear them otherwise. Get out of them in your C150 on a hot day and - well - it has to be wxxxxr again I'm afraid.
THey aren't that warm either...
I wear a pair in the winter only because thick gloves might cause you to flick the wrong switch. THe green ex-USA ones are warmer.
I wear a pair of cape leather gloves in my displays + nomex suit. The risk of crash & burn is greater of course.
THey are completely unecessary in my view in a modern cockpit in the summer - airline pilots would wear them otherwise. Get out of them in your C150 on a hot day and - well - it has to be wxxxxr again I'm afraid.
THey aren't that warm either...
I wear a pair in the winter only because thick gloves might cause you to flick the wrong switch. THe green ex-USA ones are warmer.
I wear a pair of cape leather gloves in my displays + nomex suit. The risk of crash & burn is greater of course.
Rainbow Chaser
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
From: At home, mostly!
Polo shirt (with/without club logo) that you don't mind getting oil on as with best efforts it doesn't wash out that well.
Trousies with pockets on legs (too much in waistband pockets is way uncomfortable) - Rohan is a brand that is good or other cargo trousers...again you should treat these as flying kit so no panic if they get spots of oil on!
A jacket/fleece/waistcoat cos despite best efforts and checking wx before travelling it may turn windy/chill/wet!
Key is to be comfortable...if you get sweaty hands (when first doing cross countries and finding self in turbulence etc I found this and used an old lightweight horseriding glove - cotton with non-slip bumps on fingers/palm)...
A baseball cap that you have waterproofed is a neat idea too - especially if you wear specs and have to do a walkround in the rain!
Avoid trying to look like an instructor - white shirt/black trousies or ex-RN blue jumper etc... - despite your own intentions to be practical folks will jump to the conclusion that you are trying to be mistaken for one!
Trousies with pockets on legs (too much in waistband pockets is way uncomfortable) - Rohan is a brand that is good or other cargo trousers...again you should treat these as flying kit so no panic if they get spots of oil on!
A jacket/fleece/waistcoat cos despite best efforts and checking wx before travelling it may turn windy/chill/wet!
Key is to be comfortable...if you get sweaty hands (when first doing cross countries and finding self in turbulence etc I found this and used an old lightweight horseriding glove - cotton with non-slip bumps on fingers/palm)...
A baseball cap that you have waterproofed is a neat idea too - especially if you wear specs and have to do a walkround in the rain!
Avoid trying to look like an instructor - white shirt/black trousies or ex-RN blue jumper etc... - despite your own intentions to be practical folks will jump to the conclusion that you are trying to be mistaken for one!
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 71
Likes: 0
From: N/W London, England
posted 24th July 2002 18:06
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Flying Clothing
Reading this I am reminded of a chapter in either "Air America" or the "Ravens" by Christopher Robbins I believe (apologies cant remember which right now but both very good books and worth a read).
In this it recounts a time when a USAF survival instructor turned up at Air America's base in Laos or Cambodia and was horrified to see one of the C46 pilots wearing VC type thong sandles rather than the instructor's recommended USAF jungle boots. Paraphrasing somewhat the conversation went something like:
Instructor: "Just how long do you think it would take you to walk out of the jungle if you crashed wearing those...??"
Pilot: "Well the first time it took four weeks and the last time....."!
Broadening the subject slightly, any fellow glider pilots on here care to comment on what they wear flying?
I confess that when I started I thought a "Gro-Bag" was the best idea as glider cockpits are obviously much smaller and restricted than the average spam can and the pockets are therefore useful. However, last summer I quite often found myself flying in shorts and beach sandals - not the best idea if you land out! Walking around trying to find a farmer wearing a sweat soaked t-shirt when the sun is beginning to set is not the best idea!
Not mentioning any names, but I know of one club member who has been known to fly cross country wearing only boxer shorts and legend has it that there were several once who set out on a cross country task completely starkers for a bet......!!!!
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"Soaring - Its what wings were invented for!"
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Flying Clothing
Reading this I am reminded of a chapter in either "Air America" or the "Ravens" by Christopher Robbins I believe (apologies cant remember which right now but both very good books and worth a read).
In this it recounts a time when a USAF survival instructor turned up at Air America's base in Laos or Cambodia and was horrified to see one of the C46 pilots wearing VC type thong sandles rather than the instructor's recommended USAF jungle boots. Paraphrasing somewhat the conversation went something like:
Instructor: "Just how long do you think it would take you to walk out of the jungle if you crashed wearing those...??"
Pilot: "Well the first time it took four weeks and the last time....."!
Broadening the subject slightly, any fellow glider pilots on here care to comment on what they wear flying?
I confess that when I started I thought a "Gro-Bag" was the best idea as glider cockpits are obviously much smaller and restricted than the average spam can and the pockets are therefore useful. However, last summer I quite often found myself flying in shorts and beach sandals - not the best idea if you land out! Walking around trying to find a farmer wearing a sweat soaked t-shirt when the sun is beginning to set is not the best idea!
Not mentioning any names, but I know of one club member who has been known to fly cross country wearing only boxer shorts and legend has it that there were several once who set out on a cross country task completely starkers for a bet......!!!!
--------------------
"Soaring - Its what wings were invented for!"
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,085
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From: Canada
As I recall, Peter Garrison [http://www.avweb.com/sponsors/flying....html#garrison] in his 1981 book "Long Distance Flying" also says that wearing a skirt while flying is more comfortable than trousers or shorts ... although he does concede that it can be a little embarassing at times.
Joined: Feb 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 17,520
Likes: 1,854
From: England
White RAF flying gloves are useful in cold weather and I used to use them. For that matter the RAF cold weather flying jacket is excellent for being comfortable and practical.
I think it wise to avoid nylon and fleece type clothing in flight. I have been on 3 crash scenes for light aircraft in my time. In all three the aircraft doors/frame was distorted and egress hampered. In addition all three had a strong smell of leaking avgas to them in addition to the creaking of a cooling exhaust.
Not too difficult to imagine a scenario whereby you are struggling to open an emergency exit whilst the flames licked around you...
Sunglasses are a very personal thing. Technically I have found the Serrengetti Driver range to be the ultimate. For all round wearability then a pair of straight forward RayBan Aviators are hard to beat. For style I like Police.
The best watch without doubt is the Baby Casio G - Shock available for about Ł30 everywhere. But allowing for vanity it has to be something bigger and more Swiss...
WWW
I think it wise to avoid nylon and fleece type clothing in flight. I have been on 3 crash scenes for light aircraft in my time. In all three the aircraft doors/frame was distorted and egress hampered. In addition all three had a strong smell of leaking avgas to them in addition to the creaking of a cooling exhaust.
Not too difficult to imagine a scenario whereby you are struggling to open an emergency exit whilst the flames licked around you...
Sunglasses are a very personal thing. Technically I have found the Serrengetti Driver range to be the ultimate. For all round wearability then a pair of straight forward RayBan Aviators are hard to beat. For style I like Police.
The best watch without doubt is the Baby Casio G - Shock available for about Ł30 everywhere. But allowing for vanity it has to be something bigger and more Swiss...
WWW
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,729
Likes: 0
From: 75N 16E
We haven't mentioned sunglasses yet
Interesting comment about the Hi Vis jackets....do you reckon a loud HS would count Cheers
EA
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 619
Likes: 0
From: Dorset, UK
englsihal I seem to remember reading somewhere, that it was not advisable to wear polarised sunglasses for flying. But I can't remember why that was. Anyone else know about this ?
For posing, (like Tom Cruise in Top Gun) I still like Rayban Aviators. But for flying & everyday driving etc, I can't beat the pair of Randolf Engineering (as worn by NASA astronauts ) that have survived about five years hard wear & tear. 
For posing, (like Tom Cruise in Top Gun) I still like Rayban Aviators. But for flying & everyday driving etc, I can't beat the pair of Randolf Engineering (as worn by NASA astronauts
) that have survived about five years hard wear & tear.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,068
Likes: 0
From: Brighton. UK. (Via Liverpool).
Last edited by BRL; 25th July 2002 at 16:21.
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,068
Likes: 0
From: Brighton. UK. (Via Liverpool).
Danza, your right, it don't work for some reason. If anyone is desperate enough to want to see them, type this in and look for self-portrait(in the popham gallery)........ http://groups.msn.com/BRLPictures/
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Shoreham West Sussex
Skirts are definitely more comfortable in hot weather, but the problem is that the tighter ones make it difficult to get into the spam cam and the looser ones are apt to blow up around your face compromising your dignity whilst you check the fuel on your Cessna.....just make sure that your knickers are red lace and you should be OK....
Joined: May 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 27,400
Likes: 857
From: Quite near 'An aerodrome somewhere in England'
Things not to wear?
Top of my list is one of those stupid bŁoody road-digger's vests so beloved of pompous little flight line Fuehrers at mediocre little aerodromes. These things are not airside body armour, they don't appear to make the slightest difference to the abysmal driving standards on the flight line and are just an embug.gerance.
Top of my list is one of those stupid bŁoody road-digger's vests so beloved of pompous little flight line Fuehrers at mediocre little aerodromes. These things are not airside body armour, they don't appear to make the slightest difference to the abysmal driving standards on the flight line and are just an embug.gerance.