View Poll Results: My attitude towards aviation apparel
Ashamed to wear in the GA community
19
13.87%
Ashamed to wear in public
16
11.68%
Ashamed to wear anywhere
35
25.55%
Not ashamed at all, in fact i'm proud to do so
40
29.20%
I wear 4 bars on my pyjamas
27
19.71%
Voters: 137. This poll is closed
Ashamed of aviation clothing?
High Flying Bird
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Old Sarum ish
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I seem to recall my instructor telling me that once you have a CPL you can call yourself Captain... although no-one does.
Never worn aviator specs, never will. Mainly cos they make me look like a complete prat. I do wear sunglasses for flying though, and driving, and walking etc etc.
The only bit of 'aviation clothing' I own is a blue fabric flying jacket. I bought it because they're warm and fairly light, water repellent, and pack down well. And I don't mind getting it covered in oil and grease. Oh, and it has plenty of pockets for pens, security pass, sandwhiches etc etc. I do have wings on it because our flying group awards a really nice embroidered gold pair at the annual dinner to new PPLs, and I had nowhere else to put them. I also have my BWPA badge on it so if another member sees it they might come over for a chat.
My PPRuNe wings are pinned to the cloth on my bedside table, and only get worn at fly-ins and bashes.
If I get enough money together to do more chipmunk flying I'll invest in cheap flying overall thingies, because oil is a bugga to remove from clothes. And when I'm rich I'll get a leather flying jacket and ditch the cloth one.
Never worn aviator specs, never will. Mainly cos they make me look like a complete prat. I do wear sunglasses for flying though, and driving, and walking etc etc.
The only bit of 'aviation clothing' I own is a blue fabric flying jacket. I bought it because they're warm and fairly light, water repellent, and pack down well. And I don't mind getting it covered in oil and grease. Oh, and it has plenty of pockets for pens, security pass, sandwhiches etc etc. I do have wings on it because our flying group awards a really nice embroidered gold pair at the annual dinner to new PPLs, and I had nowhere else to put them. I also have my BWPA badge on it so if another member sees it they might come over for a chat.
My PPRuNe wings are pinned to the cloth on my bedside table, and only get worn at fly-ins and bashes.
If I get enough money together to do more chipmunk flying I'll invest in cheap flying overall thingies, because oil is a bugga to remove from clothes. And when I'm rich I'll get a leather flying jacket and ditch the cloth one.
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: europe
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It used to be advisable to wear at least 4 bar epaulettes when flying into a N. African environment. Is this still the case?
I used to have wings with a safety pin backing so they could be used where needed, but they have long since disappeared.
I used to have wings with a safety pin backing so they could be used where needed, but they have long since disappeared.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: UK
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My 3 bars are not there............
Only have 3 bars on my jimjams!
Have the shirt and bars for those p@sstaking moments.
But surely no propa PPL is wearing this sort of stuff in earnest. Makes me laugh have these people nothing better to do or did their mums take their dummies away at too young an age.
Flightsuit & helmet practical in Tiger Moth but other than that..................get a life!
SSD
Thought you were looking for an L4 for your mate. You are not yearning yourself are you?
FD
Have the shirt and bars for those p@sstaking moments.
But surely no propa PPL is wearing this sort of stuff in earnest. Makes me laugh have these people nothing better to do or did their mums take their dummies away at too young an age.
Flightsuit & helmet practical in Tiger Moth but other than that..................get a life!
SSD
Thought you were looking for an L4 for your mate. You are not yearning yourself are you?
FD
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
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FD
I expect to get my backside into it - if it will still fit ;~)
If so, I might well buy a large share in it (can't run to a whole one just for me! - my mate could just for him, though).
It is high on my list of favorite aeroplanes (behind the Yak and the Chippy), as 'Pilot' readers may remember.
SSD
I expect to get my backside into it - if it will still fit ;~)
If so, I might well buy a large share in it (can't run to a whole one just for me! - my mate could just for him, though).
It is high on my list of favorite aeroplanes (behind the Yak and the Chippy), as 'Pilot' readers may remember.
SSD
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hampshire,UK
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Not sure about the poll - after all "aviation appareil" does cover quite a wide range of options 
However, it has to be said that I normally waer cloths which are comfortable - and usually a shirt with at least one pocket for putting the radio plotter, pens and any other c**P that will fit into said pocket rather than on my lap.
I do not normally wear a shirt with epaulettes (PPL) - in fact the only time I do wear one with such an attachment is when there is something to put on said epaulette to which I am actually entitled - namely my other aviation related activities which have nothing to do with Air Traffic Control (clue in the letters)
The only real piece of aviation clothing I possess (apart from some leather flying gloves, free courtesy of RAF Odiham) is a leather jacket - usually referred to by my work colleagues as the "Biggles" jacket. Excellent in cold weather for keeping warm and the wind out and really rather practical I think.
So there it is - only a leather jacket - which was actually a pressie last year from Mrs TZ.
It has to be said, that I have seen a number of pilots with some interesting appareil but in reality at our club, almost everyone is really quite normal, wearing jeans and shirt etc.
TZ
However, it has to be said that I normally waer cloths which are comfortable - and usually a shirt with at least one pocket for putting the radio plotter, pens and any other c**P that will fit into said pocket rather than on my lap.
I do not normally wear a shirt with epaulettes (PPL) - in fact the only time I do wear one with such an attachment is when there is something to put on said epaulette to which I am actually entitled - namely my other aviation related activities which have nothing to do with Air Traffic Control (clue in the letters)
The only real piece of aviation clothing I possess (apart from some leather flying gloves, free courtesy of RAF Odiham) is a leather jacket - usually referred to by my work colleagues as the "Biggles" jacket. Excellent in cold weather for keeping warm and the wind out and really rather practical I think.
So there it is - only a leather jacket - which was actually a pressie last year from Mrs TZ.
It has to be said, that I have seen a number of pilots with some interesting appareil but in reality at our club, almost everyone is really quite normal, wearing jeans and shirt etc.
TZ
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Midlands
Age: 71
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Togs
Hi Flying Dutch,
Wot R U going to wear in PM's new SR22?
(I was with him when you phoned this evening - Too much Vino Collapso to think straight - do you know wot a p@ss head he is??
HP
Wot R U going to wear in PM's new SR22?
(I was with him when you phoned this evening - Too much Vino Collapso to think straight - do you know wot a p@ss head he is??
HP
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Yorkshire
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I am diving instructor in my spare time but I dont go walking round in my dry suit once I get out of the water!!!!
Apart from safety related gear its a complete loads of b@ll@cks!
Why Ray Bans? Did someone overdose on Top Gun repeats over Xmas?? My sunglasses are Spec Savers are do the same job.
As for the gold bar brigade, think they are have been slaughtered on here before already....
Apart from safety related gear its a complete loads of b@ll@cks!
Why Ray Bans? Did someone overdose on Top Gun repeats over Xmas?? My sunglasses are Spec Savers are do the same job.
As for the gold bar brigade, think they are have been slaughtered on here before already....
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Ready to Depart
Age: 45
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bluskis wrote:
They would have their advantages and disadvantages.
The biggest 'against' is that they highlight your worth in terms of ransom..
On the flip side, they emphasise who and what you are, and place you in authority. Polly Vacher wears her four-bars for this very reason, being particularly important for females in Islamic countries.
It used to be advisable to wear at least 4 bar epaulettes when flying into a N. African environment. Is this still the case?
The biggest 'against' is that they highlight your worth in terms of ransom..
On the flip side, they emphasise who and what you are, and place you in authority. Polly Vacher wears her four-bars for this very reason, being particularly important for females in Islamic countries.
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Croydon (but really from Barnsley)
Age: 64
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I have to admit, I look at those catalogues that fall out of the flying mags and think "If I turned up wearing any of that, people would think I was a right tosser".
Ok, you coulc probably get away with some of it if you were in the right aircraft. Nothing wrong with the sheepskin jacket, but you'd look a prat climbing into an AA5 in one. If you were flying something open and/or unheated, a Tiger Moth for example, you might get away with it.
That blue plasticky jacket thing Transair sell is hideous, though.
I'm a jeans and T-shirt man. My sturdiest bit of clothing is going to be my size eleven CATs.
Ok, you coulc probably get away with some of it if you were in the right aircraft. Nothing wrong with the sheepskin jacket, but you'd look a prat climbing into an AA5 in one. If you were flying something open and/or unheated, a Tiger Moth for example, you might get away with it.
That blue plasticky jacket thing Transair sell is hideous, though.
I'm a jeans and T-shirt man. My sturdiest bit of clothing is going to be my size eleven CATs.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: UK
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I love my sheepskin flying jacket and I don't mind wearing it around town in this weather, it's the warmest thing I have.
Mind you, I would not dream of wearing it anywhere near my helicopter, a, Because I probibly wouldnt fit in and b, because I would look a right prat!
I fancy some of those gold bars though, do you think they would help me get an upgrade on my next transatlantic flight?
Mind you, I would not dream of wearing it anywhere near my helicopter, a, Because I probibly wouldnt fit in and b, because I would look a right prat!
I fancy some of those gold bars though, do you think they would help me get an upgrade on my next transatlantic flight?
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Canada
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Navel gazing!
Oh for goodness sakes, who cares what clothing other people wear, or what they think of the clothes you wear?
If someone wants to wear a helmet and goggles in a Cessna, that's perfectly all right with me. It may not be my choice, but it doesn't do me any harm. And it may just show that they are young-at-heart, which is a lot better than someone who takes him or herself too seriously.
I have a surplus flying suit that I wear about 2x a year while gliding. I would probably wear it more often, except that it's too warm on most soaring days.
While trying for altitude flights, I wear a medium-weight jacket courtesy of HM the Queen, and some sheepskin boots that I bought in NZ. Better than freezing your toes off (there's no heater in a sailplane!).
I also have a few flying club baseball caps that I sometimes wear around town - not often - I'm not really a ballcap sort of person. I doesn't bother me to give some free advertising to the clubs.
If someone wants to wear a helmet and goggles in a Cessna, that's perfectly all right with me. It may not be my choice, but it doesn't do me any harm. And it may just show that they are young-at-heart, which is a lot better than someone who takes him or herself too seriously.
I have a surplus flying suit that I wear about 2x a year while gliding. I would probably wear it more often, except that it's too warm on most soaring days.
While trying for altitude flights, I wear a medium-weight jacket courtesy of HM the Queen, and some sheepskin boots that I bought in NZ. Better than freezing your toes off (there's no heater in a sailplane!).
I also have a few flying club baseball caps that I sometimes wear around town - not often - I'm not really a ballcap sort of person. I doesn't bother me to give some free advertising to the clubs.
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Interesting, emotional, word used in the poll....
"Ashamed to wear"???????
I'm not ashamed to wear aviation clothing, I just avoid looking like a prat by making sure it's appropriate for the type of flying I do and by wearing it in the right context.
For instance, I suffer from sweaty hands and use white leather gloves - but only in the plane, not on the journey home
On the subject of why a pilot may wish to remove the uniform before travelling home .... a few I know like to stay anonymous, especially when positioning, for some peace and quiet.
Even when working as a consultant for an airline (and having a photo ID with the logo on), I soon learned the common sense of removing this in pax terminals to avoid turning a 2 minute walk to the office into a 15 min one, answering queries from people who thought I was a customer service agent and understandably wanted some assistance.
"Ashamed to wear"???????
I'm not ashamed to wear aviation clothing, I just avoid looking like a prat by making sure it's appropriate for the type of flying I do and by wearing it in the right context.
For instance, I suffer from sweaty hands and use white leather gloves - but only in the plane, not on the journey home
On the subject of why a pilot may wish to remove the uniform before travelling home .... a few I know like to stay anonymous, especially when positioning, for some peace and quiet.
Even when working as a consultant for an airline (and having a photo ID with the logo on), I soon learned the common sense of removing this in pax terminals to avoid turning a 2 minute walk to the office into a 15 min one, answering queries from people who thought I was a customer service agent and understandably wanted some assistance.
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I wear flying suit and bone dome in the Chipmunk.
Flying suit for practicality, keeps me clean and there's lots of pockets for carrying things. Stowage space is at a minimum in the Chipmunk.
Helmet for safety. If I bang my head and it causes me problems with my annual medical for the day job, I'm stuffed. Never mind the fact that it might well save my life as well.
Do I care what others think? Couldn't give a monkey's.
WF.
Flying suit for practicality, keeps me clean and there's lots of pockets for carrying things. Stowage space is at a minimum in the Chipmunk.
Helmet for safety. If I bang my head and it causes me problems with my annual medical for the day job, I'm stuffed. Never mind the fact that it might well save my life as well.
Do I care what others think? Couldn't give a monkey's.
WF.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: SX in SX in UK
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If we were sensible, logical, careful and conscientious pilots ( that can also spell ) we always wear boots, nomex overall and a helmet, whatever we flew, just in case it all goes terrible wrong.
And if we were sensible, logical, careful and conscientious car drivers, we'd do the same.
But we're not, so we are all going to dress according to taste. I shall of course, continue with my 'once-were-white' gloves.
) we always wear boots, nomex overall and a helmet, whatever we flew, just in case it all goes terrible wrong.And if we were sensible, logical, careful and conscientious car drivers, we'd do the same.
But we're not, so we are all going to dress according to taste. I shall of course, continue with my 'once-were-white' gloves.
Join Date: Jan 2001
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funny you should mention that rattus as a couple of years ago i flew to alderney on their annual fly in and so many little yellow jackets were worn that for a while i thought i had stumbled on a dustbinmens uprising .
niknak
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Rattus/Chipped - see and be seen
Surely it doesn't matter what you wear to protect yourself, but to wear something (gold bars etc) to give others the impression that you're something you aren't is ridiculous.
Surely it doesn't matter what you wear to protect yourself, but to wear something (gold bars etc) to give others the impression that you're something you aren't is ridiculous.