Epaulettes
Hi all !
Let me first defuse the comments of the (very few) cynics around here: getting my JAR-PPL has been a significant investment, a major intellectual effort and a substantial time investment. I am very proud of being a PPL holder. And now the terrible part... : I would like to wear 'epaulettes' or shoulder bars. Feel free to bash if it makes you feel good. My question is whether there are any formal or tacit rules re: epaulettes for non-professional pilots. I don't want to wear four-stripes; that's not the points. But what do 1 stripe and 2 stripe mean, for example ? Any help or direction would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, L |
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Thanks mcgoo !
Interesting and helpful reading. L |
Loewy,
Presuming your post was a serious one: Congratulations and welcome to the community! Gaining your PPL is absolutely an achievement to be proud of and to be celebrated. You've put a lot of money, time, and emotional investment into it and the day finally arrives when your license comes in the post! You've got every justification for wanting people to know what you've achieved. But (there's always a but, isn't there?), if you're a PPL and just flying as a hobby, can I suggest finding another way to display your achievement? Maybe something less conspicuous like a PPL lapel pin or something like that? Wearing epaulettes will make you a target of merciless harassment and derision; not only from the non-pilots in your life but especially from your flying peers. Wearing of epaulettes by formal flying schools, like Cabair, is seen in the PPL community as a bit poncy but understandable as they're training future airline pilots and want to start them out on a professional track. But you'll get no slack from other PPLs if you wear epaulettes just to go and rent out the club PA28 and, in fact, they may think you a bit of a tw*t. It's just not done. I'm just trying to save you some agro here but feel free to wear them if you really want to. As to what they mean, there is no "standard" as they are very much a company thing. BA uses silver (they'd have you believe it's Platinum :rolleyes:), 4 bars for Capt, 3 for Sr 1st Officer, 2 for 1st Officer. Virgin use gold for, I think, similar rankings. The meaning varies completely depending on what any one company wants it to mean. Enjoy your PPL! Pitts2112 |
Thx pitts...
My post was indeed serious, as is your helpful reply. Good landings, L |
Well...If your going to insist on wearing bars:yuk::rolleyes::= You need to know the "rule"
Bars in the bar...its your round! |
You'll have the p*** taken massively (and correctly in my view!).
I can't think of a good reason for wearing them in a PPL environment other than as an ego massaging device. Pitts2112 has given you the "rank" that the different bars mean, but as a PPL, you have as little right to wear them as you do to term yourself Captain away from the a/c. In an airline, they are worn to denote rank since you have more than one member of a crew. In private flying, there is only one pilot, so obviously they are the "captain", so therefore there is no need for differentiation, since the only other people in the a/c are "passengers" and they certainly don't need to wear rank insignia. Wear wings if you want,afterall you are a licenced pilot and have earned these, but airline insignia should be left to airline crews. Personally I have always taken off my bars as soon as I left the airport since to me they become meaningless away from the job. |
Congratulations on gaining your PPL. It's a great achievement and one to be coveted.
Keep in mind the following though. Some of us wear varying numbers of bars for our jobs (three for me). The aeroplane I fly for fun requires me to wear a knackered old RAF grow-bag to keep to keep the oil off (and stop me burning if it all goes horribly wrong), which is badgeless. There are a number of people I know who are infinitely better qualified than I, who turn up at the club looking infinitely more worn than I (most of whom wear four bars for a living and I defy you to pick the out in them flying club). :E One in particular, I've seen in T-shirt, Bermuda shorts and a very suspect hat.:eek: (He used to instruct on Hawks and has been kind enough to teach me a thing or ten, so he's forgiven - apart from the hat) :D If I could be so bold, you don't need bars unless you're earning a living and your passengers expect to see them. The bit of paper and the fact you can fly an aeroplane ought to suffice, 'cos that's the whole point. Isn't it? :ok: PS: If you're going to fly round the world a few times (a la Polly Vacher), four bars open a few doors in Africa, in which case we'll let you off. ;) |
If you wear bars you'll have to wear the shirt that goes with it - in this weather the wet patches under your arms are going to show really well ;)
Leave the uniform to the professionals. Like others I have to wear them when flying professionally. When I fly for myself it's meant to be as a hobby and fun - so you wear what's comfortable. For your own self esteem and confidence - don't do it! The minute you screw up in your first 100 hours of flying (and you will) then any semblance of sympathy anyone might have is going to disappear when they see the epaulettes, and be replaced by a lot of snide remarks. |
http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/Mus...epaulettes.jpg
If your gonna do it...do it properly! :ok: :rolleyes: |
Originally Posted by Mercenary Pilot
http://www.libertybellmuseum.com/Mus...epaulettes.jpg
If your gonna do it...do it properly! :ok: :rolleyes: :D Hilarious! I can just see me turning up in Joes bar at Biggin Hill wearing that :ouch: |
A number of years ago a (sadly long dead) helicopter engineer Terry Rowarth was having problems getting access to a Spanish airport where he was working.
He purchased what could best be described as an Argentinian band masters uniform. Approaching the airport he was roundly saluted by all and waived through!!! Which brings to mind the story previously published on this site of Chris Beltons epic flight over the Alps in a Donny aeroclub 152 straight after getting her PPL. Wanting to look the part while flying a club aircraft she wore uniform style dark trousers and jumper e.t.c. While visting the ladies at a French airport she was mistaken for the lavatory attendent.!!!!! In some countries every job comes with a uniform!!! |
Originally Posted by Human Factor
(most of whom wear four bars for a living and I defy you to pick the out in them flying club).
loewy - I think it's all been covered and hopefully you're not considering wearing bars any more. As has been said, there are some far more subtle alternatives. Please though, don't opt for a massive set of embroidered wings on your chest! And if you do buy an Irvine jacket, don't wear it in a Cessna! I've got one, but mostly use it for driving my MG Midget... Keep it discrete, or keep it away from the airfield. |
The best thing to wear is that wry little smile that you just can't stop creeping onto your face from time to time when the realisation of what you've done slides gently into your brain. ;)
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Originally Posted by Human Factor
The aeroplane I fly for fun requires me to wear a knackered old RAF grow-bag to keep to keep the oil off (and stop me burning if it all goes horribly wrong), which is badgeless.
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Originally Posted by ericferret
Wanting to look the part while flying a club aircraft she wore uniform style dark trousers and jumper e.t.c.
While visting the ladies at a French airport she was mistaken for the lavatory attendent.!!!!! In some countries every job comes with a uniform!!! Pitts2112 |
Ahh the fun of pilots uniforms = security guard. I was in Sainsburies the other day, when someone got annoyed with me and a few other pilots with me because we couldn't tell him where the charcoal was. When we said "sorry we don't work here.' he looked confused for a while, then angrily stated "What are you doing here then!" Shopping....
My course partner and I decided to rebel against the need to dress up like security guards during our CPL/ME/IR, so we purchased and wore the "security" epaulettes. |
Loewy...just don't.
Those of us who have to wear uniforms when at work for our airline hate it...or the older of us do. I delight in wearing the daggiest shorts and REALLY old, worn out uniform shirts when I fly my own aeroplane...the only reason for the pilot shirts is the number of pockets and a pen pocket...and I don't care if they get oil on cause they just get further relegated to boat shirts when they are too disgusting for aeroplane shirts. You will be roundly and rightly ridiculed..mostly behind your back...who wants that? |
Originally Posted by tom775257
My course partner and I decided to rebel against the need to dress up like security guards during our CPL/ME/IR, so we purchased and wore the "security" epaulettes. The last thing I wanted on a day that was 36c was to be wearing a shirt and tie in a spamcan!!!! 12yrs in the RAF was enough uniform for me. Even going to the officers mess bar in the evening had a dress code! Enjoy the freedom of being a PPL and and cut your own style! |
Speaking of the public and uniforms ... Where I used to live, I had a five minute walk from my flat to my car. On one occasion, while wearing my RAFVR(T) uniform (same as a 'normal' RAF officer, but with a gilt 'VRT' pin in the rank slides) I was asked whether I was in the Salvation Army. Minutes later someone mistook me for a parking attendant and asked whether he would be okay to leave his car parked on the double yellow lines. :rolleyes:
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If your going to wear the epaulettes, you may as well wear the whole uniform :ok:
http://images.biafranigeriaworld.com...undation-2.jpg |
Everyone needs a good hat:
http://www.herbert-johnson.co.uk/photos/raf.jpg |
You may also like to try.......
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...flash/mace.jpg and perhaps a...... http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...63_300x470.jpg But i would strongly advise you not to trust your compass......:E luv f |
It might be eaten by one of these:
http://www.wtv-zone.com/Hahnsflyboys/dog/lionD5.jpg But you should have one of these to fend it off: http://www.lyneham.raf.mod.uk/images...rd-2-small.jpg Alternative headgear: http://www.towhey.com/images/German%...helmet%205.gif |
http://www.para-gear.com/CATALOG/PIC...M3TCLOSE.1.jpg
This will look perfect when flying in your 150 :ok: |
But this would attract the ladeeeez
http://i15.ebayimg.com/05/i/07/64/fa/43_1_b.JPG http://i22.ebayimg.com/05/i/07/68/d4/d6_1_b.JPG On one occasion, while wearing my RAFVR(T) uniform (same as a 'normal' RAF officer, but with a gilt 'VRT' pin in the rank slides) I was asked whether I was in the Salvation Army. Minutes later someone mistook me for a parking attendant and asked whether he would be okay to leave his car parked on the double yellow lines. |
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/1...s_portrait.jpg
Check this guy out.....When you pass your IMC, you get to wear this!:D:D:D |
Aerbabe,
I really like that helmet! That's just what I need to keep from bashing my head on the canopy at the top of most maneuvers I spill out of. Think it's possible to rig it up with a boom mic? Pitts2112 |
If you can't fit a boom mic to it, I think the Tie Pilots' helmet comes with one built in:
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/bingo275/menuTIE.jpg |
Pitts
You didn't see the Pioneer with the split canpy that crashed on landing at Popham a couple of years ago then? Inbound from Belgium I think it was, hit turbulence crossing the coast, head hit the canopy, which split across its width with the back section opening up to form a big air scoop. Ran out of elevator authority and ended up doing the shortest landing I've seen on 08 (around 10 metres ground run). We picked it up and carried it off the runway and it was back about 6 months later following repair. AB You're not going to post THAT picture of someone in uniform are you? |
Originally Posted by Mike Cross
AB
You're not going to post THAT picture of someone in uniform are you? http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/564...156crop5jv.jpg |
Attractive thought that is, I suspect Fournicator's baser instincts would be better stimulated by Adam's pic. (although come to think of it, Fourni's baser instincts probably require sedation rather than stimulation);)
You look very trim! Mike |
Although slightly off topic, this would probably save a few head injuries if you encounter turbulence.... Might put the CG off a little though :) Bet you could find a smashing pair of epaulettes to go with it...
Loving the randomness of this post... Has kept me sane this afternoon! http://www.westsea.com/tsg3/tridentl...ocker/MKV1.JPG |
if you wear epaulettes just to go and rent out the club PA28 and, in fact, they may think you a bit of a tw*t. |
You may find the arguments relating to whether or not you should wear a flying suit are somewhat different.:rolleyes:
That's also been debated ad nauseum here too. |
http://www.afeonline.com/shop/datasheets/clothing.pdf
Check out p57 - might be just what your're looking for. |
THIS COULD BE YOU
http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k9...to/1083642.jpg
All set for your sunday afternoon jolly, and your girlfriend has come too :D |
Loewry,
See what I mean? See how this has gone? And you haven't even worn epaulettes yet. Best can the idea, I think... Pitts2112 |
[QUOTE=Mike Cross]Pitts
You didn't see the Pioneer with the split canpy that crashed on landing at Popham a couple of years ago then? QUOTE] No, I haven't been at Popham that long. Just moved into the neighborhood last August. Nice place, Popham. Glad I'm there. Now if we only had a few more Pitts..... Pitts2112 |
I haven't read the whole thread but there are places in Europe, Barcelona being one of them according to info I got in 2005, where turning up wearing a commercial looking pilot uniform gets you tax free avgas (about 1/2 price).
In most of Europe you can get tax free avgas on production of an AOC, and forging a piece of paper can't be that hard. Nobody is likely to check it, either. |
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