Ashamed of aviation clothing?
 

Sorry but this is a long one
After reading a few threads on this site, I have come to a conclusion that pilots, especially in the UK GA community, have a general disdain for aviation apparel. Pilots are willing to sacrifice safety features for an "GA-compliant" image. I thought safety was a pilot's No.1 priority( at least a good pilot)
I am aware that a few wannabes tend to overdo the whole thing. On a domestic flight in the US last year there were about 5 pilots on my flight, that excluding the crew. How did i know? Raybans, leather flight jackets(with gold wings) and aircrew tags on their luggage. In the US, flight suits are quite common. Raybans and flying jackets are a common sight in the aviation community. Airline pilots over there dont seem to be ashamed to wear their uniforms, some wear them on their jackets and raincoats. Believe it or not, but someone on this forum admitted to changing out of his uniform at the airport so he doesn't have to wear his uniform on his way home!!!!!!!.
I know that Britons do not like to celebrate their achievments, but I think every pilot(solo to ATPL) is entitled to wear thier WINGS, i think it's one of those dying aviation traditions (Nowadays first solo traditions are considered old fashioned!!!)
From the public's point of view, airline uniforms, flight suits, helmets,etc have a fashionable and profession image. One of the main reasoned from the "dislike" of aircrew by non-flying service men is that they always steal the show in public, with their flying apparel and "inflated egos". But in GA we seem to think of the pilot image as somewhat goofy. Remember pilots made sunglasses and leather jackets fashionable. Pilots once used to be celebrities, but that's no more cos we are ashamed of wearing our uniforms in public( and we wonder why airlines treat pilots like cr@p).
As for people not wanting to wear epaulettes, i think it's more of a case of low self esteem or some pros trying to "mark their territory". If wearing 4 bars is going to boost the self esteem of some 17 year old NPPL(which it probably will, then let him wear them. The main reason for the abuse of epaulettes is the lack of standards( for example, what are the hour or license requirements for wearing 3 bars or for one to "Capt" b4 their name?)
You can't walk for 5-10 mins in any british city without seeing some youngster in camouflage, even though they have not "earned" it. And nobody slags them off for it, but if i dare to wear a flying suit or a 'bone-dome' to my local flying club, despite their safety features, you all know how i will be viewed(can wait to get into the loving comfort of the adoring public ).
I think every post-solo pilot has the right to wear wings, every PIC has the right to wear 4 bar and call himself "captian" and any pilot or aviation enthusiast has the right to dress up in a pilot's uniform or flight suit.
By the way i do not own any aviation apparel(yet) but i'm currently looking for nomex underwear:D :D :D :D :cool:
i told it's a long one

Grief.

Surely aviation clothing unless it's practical is a waste of time, appearance is a bonus.

I freely admit to wearing a Nomex flying suit regardless of what I'm flying (it would be hard to deny most of this forum have seen me in it) and it seems a shame not to put an appropriate badge or two on it (name, wings, and ETPS in my case). If at my destination it is cold or muddy I leave it on quite happily, if it isn't I don't.

I do own a pair of Pprune wings, or at least I did - I think I've lost them.

Blue jerseys, gold bars, ostentatious wings - why? They are a uniform serving a particular function in a particular workplace. When I worked in a workshop as a very junior trainee engineer I didn't wear my overalls or white labcoat away from work, what's the difference?

I'll make one exception, a leather flying jacket (pick your style) is a pretty good universal garment - but I sure as hell wouldn't put wings on mine. It's as pretentious as wearing the badge of some highbrow society other than at it's meetings or using postnominal letters in any context but a professional one (okay, the latter can also reasonably be used to intimidate head teachers and council officials).

G

Aviation 'apparel' around here at the moment consists of wellington boots, mud-spattered trousers and a woolly jumper.

For heaven's sake this is just self-obsession. Who gives a toss what anyone wears or what the meaning is? Wear what you personally like and feel comfortable in -- wings, wellies, raybans, nomex, shorts, rubber, epaulettes, whatever -- and if the rest of the world doesn't like it, then it can go jump. There's no philosophical question whatsoever in all this -- it's utterly trivial.

QDM

There was a cracking thread all about this aaaaaaaaages ago and I am doing my very best to try and find it. Can anyone out there remember the thread name or indeed find it?
Winner gets a can of Stella-Artois :)

Can anyone suggest a nomex type suit that can be worn over normal day attire with all the obvious benefits ?

Pretty much any if you buy one size too large.

There's a company called Silvermans who do replica USAF suits in several colours at http://www.silvermans.co.uk/ if you're looking for one fairly cheaply.

G

Three bars show you've gone solo with the Transair catalogue.

IIRC the requirement to be able to put "Captain" before your name is to be promoted to the rank of Captain in the Navy. The army rank is too low to count, unless you are Mark Phillips ;) For pilots it is an honourific - other people can call you that out of respect, but anybody who calls themselves captain is a bit of a Rimmer... :)

why worry what other people think if u want to wear gold bars why not ?

i practically live in my flying jacket but i do take my raybans off when i get out the plane cus u tend to look like a **** walking round in them if u do it all the time

Possibly the worst example of wearing aviation attire is James Allan(sp?) when he "hosts" the Farnborough Air Show TV progs.

Not only does he insist on wearing a USAF flying suit, but he gets one several sizes too small and looks more like the Michelin Man :D

PS, you need another option on the poll:

"Couldn't give a monkey's" - I'm sure it would win :)

I always thought the level of clothing 'pose' was inverse to the ability of the pilot at most flying clubs. The guy in the old jeans and holy pullover or oil-stained tatty flying suit is probably a highly experienced aeros ace, while the one wearing the navy sweater with gold wings and eppaulettes or immaculate flying suite with squadron badges etc. can just about master his C152 on a good day.

I once knew a guy who flew a Beach Muskateer (if you've never flown one - don't bother) who always wore an ex- military flying suite. One day we flew to Skegness (the old Ingoldmells airfield) and so finely honed were his skills that he flew an enourmouse circuit on arrival and lost sight of the field. By the time he'd located it again he was at about 45 degrees off the runway heading, so went-around. He repeated this feat of airmanship no fewer than 5 times before we actually landed, by which time a small audience had gathered by the clubhouse.

Before getting out of the aeroplane, he got out of his flying suite. "I don't want them all to know who was flying", he said. It was in vain, becuse we were already out and all pointing vigourously at him as we walked away from the Muskateer ;~))

SSD

Well, at this time of the year, it is usually jogging bottoms, woolley pully, fleece, thick waterproof jacket, + waterproof shoes or boots.

In summer, if I can remember what that was :( , its usually teeshirt & shorts, or a skirt.

So, if I buy the 4 gold bars, I suppose they will have to go on my nightie, if only I wore one! ;)

In summer, if I can remember what that was, its usually teeshirt & shorts, or a skirt.

Ah yes!! A hot sunny day, an L4 cub with the whole side open, shorts, T shirt, and sandals.

Seems a long way away right now.....


SSD

Flying clothing
 

I think it was General Patten who used to wear 4 silver stars on his pidgies??

Silly sights -

1. Middle of summer - Enstone - pilot sweats his way into the cockpit of a Grob 109, wearing multi-badged/ winged suit, gloves, Irvin, boots, silk scarf, knife - the full b@ll@cks. His passenger got in - just about - wearing shorts and a tee shirt. Same t@sser drives over to the PFA Rally - same kit - scorchio - and was seen strutting around the flight line engaged in merry pilot banter.
2. PPL - flies exclusively in white airline shirt, 4 bars and wings. See him at Aerofair for sure this year again.

If I am flying open cockpit or chilly non-heated vintage machine I tend to wear a suit(winter only), principally because I hate pulling my shirt out of my trousers as I get in (I am a fat git) and struggling to get everything back in again after I have sat down. When I am display flying I am expected to look like a proper pilot - even though I am a mere mortal hobby weekender. So, I do wear a lightweight nomex suit (and a damn silly hat!)

The only badge I wear has my name on it in case I get p@ssed after the show and forget who I am.

Sorry, but I only look derisively on those who award themselves wings and gold bars. Different if you have earned them and are flying for the 'firm' that awarded them to you at the time.

It is a sad fact that some pilots need to wear 'look I'm a pilot' clothing because they otherwise go through life suffering from lack of recognition and have a self-esteem problem generally. I am convinced also that some people learn to fly for all the wrong reasons. A lot of 'Mitty' pilots learn and then do very little post-PPL except talk about it.

Go to Shuttleworth. All their pilots, with one exception, are ex TP's. None of them wear wings. Look closely and you might see a well-earned oily/ faded ETPS badge.

Sorry guys - get out of your Cessna (or indeed a Musketeer - a truly dreadful aeroplane!) wearing the full b@ll@cks anywhere near me and I promise that I will do my best to stifle my chuckles.

HP

drauk Thats not the one. I did post a reply to yours late last night but it hasn't shown up. Anyway, thats not the one, the other one is longer than that and a lot funnier too. Anyone else remember it? I will throw in 10 Silk Cut if someone gets it soon...... ;)

I left job once where they gave me a flying jacket as a leaving present. They must have wanted rid of me real bad because it was a beauty; oh, the smell of sheepskin. If I'd worn it down the hangar I would have been laughed off the premises. I had to give it to my brother, a non-flying nerd, who can wear it with impunity. Jeans and a shirt for me.

BRL - I'll negotiate for a packet of Drum!!!

Possible ones you're looking for are:

Flying Clothing Link 1

or Flying Clothing Link 2

or Flying Clothing Link 3

Any of these??!

Blimey, the things you do for a drink/smoke. :) A can of stella and a packet of drum on its way up to you...... :D

(It was the first one..)

No skiddy Pantz
 

Hi Big Red L,

That was indeed an amusing thread.

Interesting that Piper Warrior Pilot started it yet is a 16 year old non-pilot who used to post frequently on all sorts of subjects and got all sorts of advice.

He seems to have gone quiet now - probably discovered other ways to make his pantz dirty.....

HP

Shaggy Sheep Driver
I will have to disagree with you. I know quite a few 'aerobatic' aces who like to dress up. I understand that Mr GA , Capt Airlines and Flt Lt Airforce can't stand each others guts, but there are some of pilots who fit into more than one category. For example should G-V capt have to change out of his uniform if he wants to fly his c-152 for an hr after a boring day at work b4 heading home?
Another question. If i were practicing unusual attitudes, engine failures or aerobatics in a C-152, is it unreasonable for me to wear a helmet and a flame retardent outfit?
There are a few experienced "aerobatiNauts" who think that aerobatics without a helmet is irresponsible.
By the way I see a lot of bikers dress up in full gear and nobody slags them off when they walk throug town.(maybe i should give up and become a biker).:(