Epaulettes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
From: inside
Sorry, I missed the part where you said it was a stupid question 
In that case you should wear them at all times. No, really !! You paid for them....wear them with pride. Women will adore you and men will tremble in you presence. 
In that case you should wear them at all times. No, really !! You paid for them....wear them with pride. Women will adore you and men will tremble in you presence.
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
From: Norwich, CT USA
I only worked for one operator that required pilots to were them, it was about image, I would have rather had the Transmisson leak fixed and a wind screen I could see out of, but you see it was about image. What ever floats your boat I guess. I could care less. Never worn them when I flew airplane either.
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 506
Likes: 1
From: Europe
Bullseye! BigMike 
That's the way i like it to see us rotorheads! I hate this company forced wearing of bars, fortunately they want it only on a few occasions.
Wearing bars on uncle franks toys is comical. In cases i had to fly a much bigger JAR/FAR 29 twin and my boss or the PR Manager pressed me in a new shirt with tie and bars i feeled like a bus driver, a bellboy or like one of this gracefully airline captains,fresh out of a slang tanner, assisted by one or two ambitious FO.
NO! I'm proud to be a helicopter pilot and not one of this high altitude, well polished, one way autopiloted "cockpit managers". I like the laxity to be a rotorhead, i like the smell of kerosene, i like the dust from hovering near grounds, i like my proven and scratched leather jacket, i like my cap and i like the feel to go outfitted in this manner through the mass of bars wearing plank drivers, getting ascendent views from this statures and out on the field they stumble looking at my multimillion ship, my maneuvers, and i blow them the airfield dust direct at the well pressed white shirts with bars.
That's the way i like it to see us rotorheads! I hate this company forced wearing of bars, fortunately they want it only on a few occasions.
Wearing bars on uncle franks toys is comical. In cases i had to fly a much bigger JAR/FAR 29 twin and my boss or the PR Manager pressed me in a new shirt with tie and bars i feeled like a bus driver, a bellboy or like one of this gracefully airline captains,fresh out of a slang tanner, assisted by one or two ambitious FO.
NO! I'm proud to be a helicopter pilot and not one of this high altitude, well polished, one way autopiloted "cockpit managers". I like the laxity to be a rotorhead, i like the smell of kerosene, i like the dust from hovering near grounds, i like my proven and scratched leather jacket, i like my cap and i like the feel to go outfitted in this manner through the mass of bars wearing plank drivers, getting ascendent views from this statures and out on the field they stumble looking at my multimillion ship, my maneuvers, and i blow them the airfield dust direct at the well pressed white shirts with bars.
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From:
dont forget:
- slight paunch derived from cheap beer and lack of excersise due to either sitting in helicopter, sitting in office waiting to sit in helicopter, or sitting in bar waiting to for the following day when you can do it all over again.
- Evidence of red face, not from a tropical tan, but from women slapping you when you attempted to chat them up whilst wearing Epaulettes.
- wallet in back pocket as it is thin enough to be there, seeing that it usually holds one note, an expired credit card, and possibly a crumpled photo of the lastest barmaid, purely used to prove to your fellow pilots that you are getting some. Note destined to be used over the course of the evening to buy beer for paunch.
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Europe/US
Originally Posted by Mr Selfish
Gold bars for Jet Pilots
Silver bars for Turbo Prop Pilots
Seedy bars for Helicopter Pilots
MS
Silver bars for Turbo Prop Pilots
Seedy bars for Helicopter Pilots
MS
NO......Platinum bars...every time!
Much higher order!
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: canada
Big Mike,
Finally!
Been wearing my "Blunnies" since '98, were "once black," and have been soaked in so many types of fuel and oil, that they're considered Dangerous Goods by the airlines...
We are issued Flight Suits, mine is for sale, never used. As for Bars, well, wore them once years ago in Mexico, never again. Sort of damned if you do, and damned if you don't, because if you take them off, you look like the Mormon "Mass Conversion Team" kids that show up at your door every three weeks when you're hung over.
RH
Finally!
Been wearing my "Blunnies" since '98, were "once black," and have been soaked in so many types of fuel and oil, that they're considered Dangerous Goods by the airlines...
We are issued Flight Suits, mine is for sale, never used. As for Bars, well, wore them once years ago in Mexico, never again. Sort of damned if you do, and damned if you don't, because if you take them off, you look like the Mormon "Mass Conversion Team" kids that show up at your door every three weeks when you're hung over.
RH
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 3,008
Likes: 62
From: North Queensland, Australia
When I asked the question about how many bars we were supposed to wear on the epaulettes, I was told by the chief pilot to get ones with no more than 3, otherwise I would make everyone else look silly.
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
From: UK
Surely You wear as many bars as your payload permits up to the point when your shoulders sag?
Seriously, the question's been answered already but could I empasize that etiquette demands that you take your bars off in a non-aviation environment and doubly so if you're bellying up to a bar!
Someone made a good point that fare-paying passengers like to see them because, quite irrationally, it fills them with confidence and they are also useful in transit through Europe and Africa. Advanced years and a majestic demeanour also helps!
Seriously, the question's been answered already but could I empasize that etiquette demands that you take your bars off in a non-aviation environment and doubly so if you're bellying up to a bar!
Someone made a good point that fare-paying passengers like to see them because, quite irrationally, it fills them with confidence and they are also useful in transit through Europe and Africa. Advanced years and a majestic demeanour also helps!