Flight Suit for Civilian?

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 1:24 pm

I have been thinking about wearing a flight suit for flying. It has a certain practical and symbolic appeal. Of course if the pilot is a veteran or has some government affiliation it seems more appropriate (neither apply in my case). Any comments or suggestions on tasteful and appropriate flight suits and/or civilian flight apparel?

(Please stay on topic. No joke images! LOL. Thanks!)

jnmeade · Post by **jnmeade** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 2:34 pm

Fllight suits not in a military airplane or CAP (and even then) often seem pretentious and self-centered. Most people will look at you funny and wonder what your hangup is.
What do you want the civilian gear to do? If you are flying a cub in rough terrain, a mesh vest with pockets for your PLB, survival gear and radio make sense.
If you want to fly in a flight suit, join the Civil Air Patrol. Otherwise, put a poster on your wall at home and avoid being the butt of people's jokes.

ussyorktown · Post by **ussyorktown** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:49 pm

I resemble that remark. I wear a flight suit and put my knife on my ankle (to break windows and cut off seat belt and parachute cords), my med supplies on my left ankle pocket. My cell phone and wallet in the top pockets, my super strong flashlight in the hip pocket to see at night and to beat the crap out of the Viet Cong or their equivalent if I go down in Indian Country, a $30 pilot pen (short, very sturdy with blue, black ink and a pointer) to write down my plans on landing and what the Tower told me. That goes into the pocket that is on my left shoulder.
I also put my old Navy patches from squadrons and ships and PILOTS N PAWS on the flight suit. [img]http://aspecialdayguide.com/dan&maggie.jpg[/img]
My hang up-it is very useful and I get to remember when I was 17 years old flying off the decks of aircraft carriers. And, I look so damn cool.

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:58 pm

Personally I think it's kind of cool, but it has to be done right and match the personality of the person wearing the flight suit. Probably have to be willing to take some flack by others that have different opinions. Even the Blue Angles get teased a bit for their pretty blue tight flight suits... and they ARE the Blue Angles!!

I guess a good alternative would just be nice civilian clothes that match the aircraft colors and a certain style. Maybe cargo pants and a nice shirt & jacket. Something coordinated that says "flying day" clothes... kind of like golf apparel is for golfers.

Jim Stewart · Post by **Jim Stewart** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:59 pm

ussyorktown wrote:I resemble that remark. I wear a flight suit and put my knife on my ankle (to break windows and cut off seat belt and parachute cords), my med supplies on my left ankle pocket. My cell phone and wallet in the top pockets, my super strong flashlight in the hip pocket to see at night and to beat the crap out of the Viet Cong or their equivalent if I go down in Indian Country, a $30 pilot pen (short, very sturdy with blue, black ink and a pointer) to write down my plans on landing and what the Tower told me. That goes into the pocket that is on my left shoulder.
I also put my old Navy patches from squadrons and ships and PILOTS N PAWS on the flight suit. [img]http://aspecialdayguide.com/dan&maggie.jpg[/img]
My hang up-it is very useful and I get to remember when I was 17 years old flying off the decks of aircraft carriers. And, I look so damn cool.

Pictures or it didn't happen

ussyorktown · Post by **ussyorktown** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:10 pm

What is the world coming to when one pilot doesn't take another pilot at his word?
ussyorktown on flight deck of USS Kearsarge with HS6 helo behind him: http://aspecialdayguide.com/bernathelo.gif

ussyorktown on gun watch port side aft, right below the landing signal officer
http://aspecialdayguide.com/bernathgunb.gif

ussyorktown getting his high school diploma, having an Ensign teach him and shipmates
http://aspecialdayguide.com/bernat2.gif
ussyorktown getting promoted to E5, 2nd Class Petty Officer, flight deck USS Yorktown

ussyorktown photographing first men to travel to the moon, hangar deck ussyorktown (I'm on the right=I've gained weight since then)
http://aspecialdayguide.com/yorktown/im ... utnam8.jpg

ARTICLE I wrote about Apollo 8 recovery (now if you fly to the moon and back then you can call yourself "an aviator"-Hey, the spacemen are all wearing flight suits!)

http://aspecialdayguide.com/yorktown/apollofirst.htm

Jim Stewart · Post by **Jim Stewart** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:10 pm

Nice.

drseti · Post by **drseti** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 5:58 pm

designrs wrote:Something coordinated that says "flying day" clothes.

Actually, psychological studies have shown a great safety advantage to having designated "flying day" apparel, be it a flight suit, leather jacket, silk scarf, or anything else not worn on other occasions. The very act of donning that special outfit separates you, mentally, from more mundane activities, and subconsciously underscores the need to pay special attention to what you're doing. (Donning a motorcycle helmet before a ride has a similar salubrious effect on one's safety attitude.)

designrs · Post by **designrs** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:32 pm

Most interesting comment Paul. In fact my interest in having flying specific apparel came after reading about young aviation students at a flight academy. From the day that they checked in they had pilot's uniforms. It sets the mind. Kind of like boot camp uniforms in the military.

RyanShort1 · Post by **RyanShort1** » Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:58 pm

drseti wrote:
designrs wrote:Something coordinated that says "flying day" clothes.
Actually, psychological studies have shown a great safety advantage to having designated "flying day" apparel, be it a flight suit, leather jacket, silk scarf, or anything else not worn on other occasions. The very act of donning that special outfit separates you, mentally, from more mundane activities, and subconsciously underscores the need to pay special attention to what you're doing. (Donning a motorcycle helmet before a ride has a similar salubrious effect on one's safety attitude.)

I dunno about that, but I know that I wear an ex-military flight suit that a friend gave me when I'm flying the Cub in the winter (brrrr....) and it's nice. I also wear a helmet most of the time when I'm flying, but I don't know that I'm any safer for it. If anything, when I'm not able to wear it, I am slightly apprehensive.

Ryan

Jack Tyler · Post by **Jack Tyler** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 7:44 am

Richard, I think some of the A's to your flight suit Q were a bit much so let's back up a step. There are many flight schools here in Florida which mandate a full commercial flight uniform from day one (blue slacks, white collar shirt, shoulder boards denoting progress in their ratings). Flight instructors, ditto. FBO meaintenance techs at most of the airports I visit wear a work uniform of some kind. My son would tell you one of the (many) things he likes about flying for Uncle Sam's Canoe Club (USN) is that his working uniform is a flight suit and they are functional in many ways that is not true for conventional uniforms: they're wash 'n wear, don't show dirt easily (in his case, more likely hydraulic oil), and well designed to be functional for numerous flight tasks (see the comment in the post above), and are easily modified for hot (T-shirt and skivvies) or cold (layers underneath) weather. Back in the day, I traded a pilot a bunch of steaks for a well worn khaki flight suit because it was sooo much more functional for both bridge & submerged watchstanding aboard subs. (Poopie Suits weren't an allowed uniform for diesel boat submariners). So I think you're asking a very valid Q.

Now...might it look pretentious & bogus in the eyes of others? Sure, to some extent at least and for some more than others. But my thinking is that, to some extent, this can be mitigated by the type of flight suit chosen and how it is (not) adorned with bogus patches, lightning bolts and such. (OTOH if you'd earned patches on flight duty earlier in your life, I'd say put them on.) Something like a plain cotton/poly, khaki flight suit that actually fits (somewhat uncommon), that perhaps has been washed a few (hundred) times and might even show the accumulated stains of some belly washes or oil changes might end up looking purposeful and so be less derided by others. Besides, if that's what you'd like to try wearing, who cares what someone else thinks? My wife would tell you I've ruined too many clothes by messing with a plane. She would think it makes sense.

jnmeade · Post by **jnmeade** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:17 am

drseti wrote:
designrs wrote:Something coordinated that says "flying day" clothes.
Actually, psychological studies have shown a great safety advantage to having designated "flying day" apparel, be it a flight suit, leather jacket, silk scarf, or anything else not worn on other occasions. The very act of donning that special outfit separates you, mentally, from more mundane activities, and subconsciously underscores the need to pay special attention to what you're doing. (Donning a motorcycle helmet before a ride has a similar salubrious effect on one's safety attitude.)

Citation, please. No helmet law in Iowa, so I dispute your contention in that regard (and people wear helmets with bicyccles only because of social pressure).

The flight schools are a closed environment - general aviation is not. It's like looking at a group of ROTC cadets - they're working on it but they're not real yet and the uniforms have significance only in their milieu. Do you wear your Boy Scout badges on a hike in the mountains.

Why don't you wear a pair of bib overalls? They have lots of handy pockets, are loose fitting, cool (in temperature) and reasonably priced. Not interested? I'd have a better opinion of a man who got out of his cub in a pair of bibs than I would of a man who got out of it in some jumped up jump suit.

deltafox · Post by **deltafox** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 8:20 am

Good comments Jack. In addition to all of the psychological factors there is a safety factor. I always found it comforting to have nomex covering me, especially gloves. But then, I also carry a fire bottle in my flight bag.

drseti · Post by **drseti** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:26 am

jnmeade wrote:Citation, please.

The research was done at the University of Southern California in the 1970s, and is cited in all the Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses. During my 3 1/2 decades as an academic, I always provided citations in my publications and presentations. But this forum is neither a scholarly journal nor a professional conference (nor am I being compensated for my time and efforts), so you're just going to have to look it up for yourself if you want the exact source. (Hint: Google is your friend!)

No helmet law in Iowa,

Thread drift -- we're not discussing helmet laws here, and nobody ever proposed a flight suit law. I'm just pointing out what the psychological studies show.

so I dispute your contention in that regard (and people wear helmets with bicyccles only because of social pressure).

It doesn't have to be a helmet for biking, or a flight suit for flying. Anything that sets the activity apart in your mind from everyday activities will suffice. For a biker, it might be a leather jacket, or chaps, or a Harley scarf, or gloves. For a pilot, it could be an AOPA jacket, or epaulets, or special flying shoes, or whatever. The act of donning it tells you you're about to embark on something special. Wearing pilot garb (whatever that is) signals your brain to slow down and do a thorough preflight, be especially attentive during the run-up, scan for traffic in the pattern, etc. It's a crutch, yes, but our brains evolved to respond well to subliminal memory aids.

Do you wear your Boy Scout badges on a hike in the mountains.

If the hike were especially hazardous, and a scout badge sash would serve as a reminder to exercise due caution, then yes, I probably would.

Why don't you wear a pair of bib overalls?

That would work perfectly. Anything that sets this activity apart from others will trigger a safety response in your cerebral cortex. Whatever garb you choose should be something that you consider unique to the special activity. For some pilots, that's a big fancy watch. Doesn't matter what it is, if it triggers the desired response.

drseti · Post by **drseti** » Sun Aug 05, 2012 11:30 am

Jack Tyler wrote:There are many flight schools here in Florida which mandate a full commercial flight uniform from day one (blue slacks, white collar shirt, shoulder boards denoting progress in their ratings). Flight instructors, ditto. FBO meaintenance techs at most of the airports I visit wear a work uniform of some kind.

Jack, the subject of a work uniform for FBOs and flight schools speaks to professionalism (whether perceived or actual). This is a worthy topic, which I'm going to address in a new thread on the Instructor's Corner forum.