Flying Attire

How Do You Dress To Fly?

  • Casual

    Votes: 55 67.1%

  • Semi-Casual

    Votes: 20 24.4%

  • Formal

    Votes: 2 2.4%

  • N/A-Uniform

    Votes: 5 6.1%

  • Other

    Votes: 5 6.1%
  • Total voters
    82
B

bigblockz8

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Nov 8, 2011
Messages
429
Display Name
Display name:
Gore
Just wondering, how do you dress to go flying? 99% of the time how do you dress? There are plenty of situations that call for different dress but in general. I'm personally a shorts, Kapa shirt, and tennis shoe person. I usually opt for a T-shirt if it is too hot out.

I know that just a few years ago people dressed up for everything. Times have changed and it is "acceptable" to dress down. Not that clothes make the pilot or anything.

Here are some example of how a few pilots I know dress:

1. Spencer- Cool guy! Flies barefoot in shorts,aviators,and a T-shirt. Wears flip flops any other time.

2. " Flash"- An older gentleman that has 17,000hrs in the air! Very cool person that just silences a room when he speaks. Not your typical 72yr old! No Mr. allowed here. He wears cargo shorts, a pair of well worn Nike's, and a Guayabera shirt.

3. Dan- Mid 20's CRJ FO. Pre-airline he wore tan cargo shorts and T-shirt.

4. Mr. Roach- Wears a Captain's uniform. He is a student pilot but likes to feel more professional while learning. May look odd but he is confident.

5. Paul- Late teen's, takes a semi casual approach. Jeans, a button down, and a pair of Dockers.

The majority that I know are shorts and T people. I will sort flying attire into the poll answers,

Casual
Semi-Casual
Formal
N/A- Uniform
Other...aka naked
 
I dress to egress.

If it's cold, I'm wearing a down jacket. Chinos. Way up high (I've had cabin heat fink out, ski overpants stored in the wayback.
If it's spring, leather jacket.
If it's hot, a short sleeved shirt.

I laugh at the flight suited guys. I've BTDT and about the only reason to wear one is if you have a Martin-Baker pin and flag just below your left hand.....

Hey have you checked out the ejection system on the BO--nanza lately?
 
Depends on the temperature. Here's what I wear between 40 and 60 degrees:
rons_jacket.JPG


Above 60, a light jacket, above 75, no jacket. Below 40, a B-3 and a spandex ski mask.

ice5.gif

Ron Wanttaja
 
wanttaja said:
Depends on the temperature. Here's what I wear between 40 and 60 degrees:
rons_jacket.JPG


Above 60, a light jacket, above 75, no jacket. Below 40, a B-3 and a spandex ski mask.


Ron Wanttaja
Click to expand...

I really like the Fly Baby jacket! Custom made?
 
Jeans and a sweater. Met a pilot recently who flies barefoot though. Oh and I wear ugly-ish flat shoes for rudder control (sometimes change back into heels or bring them in my flight bag).
 
I instruct in some sort of tshirt, sometimes I wear jeans, sometimes I wear shorts. In the winter I wear my carhartt jacket. Sometimes I shave, usually when Danielle tells me I look like a douchebag.

When it's really cold..in the winter..on a cross country..at night..I wear carhart overalls, t shirt, sweatshirt, carhart jacket, and boots good to like -30F. I'd like to not freeze to death if I land off-airport.
 
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jesse said:
Sometimes I shave, usually when Danielle tells me I look like a douchebag.
Click to expand...

That was another point I forgot to make. People used to shave and sideburns were almost exclusively reserved for hippies. I only shave when I am asked what beer I would like. IMHO personal appearance gets thrown out the door as soon as that engine starts.
 
Flying as an airline passenger, I dress for comfort, but not like a total slob. I might even wear a button-down shirt. Maybe. I will wear a tie for a lady, or for a wedding or funeral, but not to look important. Hate those damn things. Same with "sport jackets" or "blazers" or whatever they're called. And I can't really wear white- the likelihood of spilling an entire cup of coffee on myself increases in direct proportion to how close to white my shirt is. :D

Flying gliders, I dress like a total slob. Pretty much the same sort of casual stuff I usually wear, but the rattier wardrobe items- the paint-spattered cutoffs, the slightly torn t-shirt, the battered sneakers, etc.
I get dirty at the tiedowns, I sweat like a pig while staging and on tow (if not throughout the flight), and several trips back and forth through the grass, either on foot or riding the quad, will yield plenty of dirt and grass stains.

The rotation basically goes like this: I wear an article of clothing to work until it gets damaged or stained, then it gets worn for gliding. Once it gets too nasty for even that, it's for working on my car. after that, it goes in the trash. :D

Flying power or gliders cross-country, I think it's a good idea to dress like you're going hiking. Sturdy but comfy shoes, and lightweight layers if it's cold. And a hat is not a must in the plane (especially an open-cockpit plane, LOL), but if you do wind up spending time stuck on the ground in the sun, it's a very good thing. Same for cold weather- at least bring a winter hat. I try to avoid synthetics, too- cotton, leather or wool won't protect you from fire as well as Nomex, but they'll sure do a better job than nylon or polyester.
 
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bigblockz8 said:
That was another point I forgot to make. People used to shave and sideburns were almost exclusively reserved for hippies. I only shave when I am asked what beer I would like. IMHO personal appearance gets thrown out the door as soon as that engine starts.
Click to expand...
To be fair, if I am going to be flying with a new person that does not know me I make sure I show up freshly shaved. Most of my business is repeat business and I don't worry about it as much then. If I fly with someone once I can expect I'll fly with them again within a month or two.
 
bbchien said:
I laugh at the flight suited guys. I've BTDT and about the only reason to wear one is if you have a Martin-Baker pin and flag just below your left hand.....
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That is pretty silly, but I think some sort of coveralls would be smart if you plan to be out for a few days in something with an open cockpit, or a plane that may require an oil change or some other field work enroute. For that kind of flying in winter, definitely insulated coveralls.You can wear pretty much whatever underneath, and quickly turn into a presentable human at your destinations, without actually changing your clothes. And if you're wearing a parachute, I think a flight suit is appropriate. :D
 
flip flops, cargo shorts, t-shirt, and aviators. Only a couple exceptions in the last few months. I kick off my shoes when I get in the plane so I can feel the rudders better.
 
Hope Lynn and Kim don't mind me posting their pictures, but here I am at October Gastons (On the right)

299326_10150340157879446_825954445_7964349_1508887854_n.jpg


6114670731_74e495e2a5_z.jpg


And 6Y9. It was like 40 degrees and rainy when they took that picture.
 
Uniform...and by that I mean clothes I have to wear.
 
bbchien said:
I dress to egress.

If it's cold, I'm wearing a down jacket. Chinos. Way up high (I've had cabin heat fink out, ski overpants stored in the wayback.
If it's spring, leather jacket.
If it's hot, a short sleeved shirt.

I laugh at the flight suited guys. I've BTDT and about the only reason to wear one is if you have a Martin-Baker pin and flag just below your left hand.....

Hey have you checked out the ejection system on the BO--nanza lately?
Click to expand...

So there's no value in nomex unless you've ejected? I disagree.

Dress for the nature of the flight. Your dress to egress advice is good.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
bbchien said:
I dress to egress.

If it's cold, I'm wearing a down jacket. Chinos. Way up high (I've had cabin heat fink out, ski overpants stored in the wayback.
If it's spring, leather jacket.
If it's hot, a short sleeved shirt.

I laugh at the flight suited guys. I've BTDT and about the only reason to wear one is if you have a Martin-Baker pin and flag just below your left hand.....

Hey have you checked out the ejection system on the BO--nanza lately?
Click to expand...
Bruce and I went to the same survival schools in the Navy, hence, we both worry about what if we end up on the ground overnight in terms of the amount and weight of clothing we carry. Having been grabbed while walking to the jet and then dumped in the snow at the 5000-foot level of Mount Baker in January with nothing but what I was wearing/had strapped to me at the time plus a parachute and the contents of my seat-pan survival kit, I am acutely aware of the importance of being prepared.

As for style, it varies. When I'm working for PIC, I wear the mandatory shirt and tie with good slacks and reasonably dressy shoes. When I've been working on the plane, I'll probably be wearing a work shirt and jeans, or maybe a t-shirt and shorts in the summer. For other events, usually casual. For footwear, I'm always wearing cotton socks and closed-toe footwear -- too much can happen to your feet otherwise if something goes wrong. And I never wear artificial materials next to my skin when flying -- you really don't want to see what happens to someone when that stuff melts in a flash fire.
 
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What I wear depends on the Wx and where I am flying as well as my personal fears. In general I agree with Bruce but to be more specific in winter or cold Wx. I wear jeans hiking boots, a flannel shirt and possibly a wool sweater a ski jacket and leather gloves.

In fall or spring I'll wear jeans and a leather flight jacket or if even more mild I'll wear a more light weight cotton flight jacket.

In summer its cotton shorts and shirt with short socks and a T-Shirt.

How does all of this relate to my fears? Wellllllll my two greatest non Wx related fears are mid airs and FIRE!:hairraise:

A while back some on on one of the boards ( actually I think here on POA) a video of a safety seminar given by a senior or former USAF pilot who spoke about an engine failure on climbout, his crash landing and resulting fire. He was confident that the only thing that prevented it from being much worse were the USAF issued gloves ( nomex ) I presume. He talked about fire in the cockpit and after a crash and spoke about dressing for fire.

Natural fibers tend to burn slower and in a different manner than most synthetics ( nomex excluded obviously). I used to fly in cold weather with some combination of the warm clothing I wore skiing or hiking.

Certainly wool will burn as will cotton but they don't MELT like many of the synthetics. You can shed a wool sweater thats on fire but it won't melt to your skin like a synthetic. The same goes for pants.

In summer sometimes its just to dang hot to fly in anything but shorts and a T-shirt but again I look to wear natural fibers.

I never wear flip flops or go bear foot for the same reason. Also I'm not sure what other aircraft are like but I often fly in Piper products and that raised portion on the floor running front to back upon which the Johnson Bar rests can get hot as hell and could roast my foot even with sneakers on in normal flight. I can't imagine how hot my foot would get in bare feet for flip flops. Also if I have to egress a plane on fire I don't want to be running across a pool of flaming Avgas in bare feet.
 
I wear whatever happens to be on my back when I decide to go flying and that's typically jeans, a T shirt, light weight hikers or tennies, & whatever jacket appropriate for the weather.
 
I always make certain to wear enough to survive the hike to the farmhouse if I go down in a field. Were I flying in a remote part of the country I would wear a cargo vest with lots of pockets to store my survival gear. Fortunately where I live and fly I doubt I would go down out of sight.
 
I dress for the weather and the conditions. I always wear close-toed shoes. I still have my USCG flight suits, and I have worn them on a couple of flights where survival was a consideration (operating a single well beyond gliding distance of shore) and I felt the extra pockets and things were useful, along with a vest, PLB, dye, etc.
 
Depends on what I'm doing.

If I'm flying for pay (which is most of what I do these days) I either wear jeans and a dress shirt or business casual. This makes the customers happy. Add a sweater in the winter, and my issued jacket with 4 bars if appropriate.

If I'm flying for myself or Cloud Nine, then I'm less particular about what I wear, and it just ends up being whatever's comfortable for the weather. So that will typically end up being a t-shirt in the summer, flannel shirt in the winter. In the summer in the 310 you're more likely to see me wearing a white t-shirt and shorts, since that airplane has poor ventilation but makes an excellent greenhouse. Conversely, the Aztec's patented extra-ventilation system (translation: plenty of air leaks) means if I'm flying at night in the middle of winter you'll probably see me in a flannel shirt under a fleece-lined shirt, fleece-lined jeans, and some really cold-rated boots.

I dress more based on how well my heater works (and my expectations of it failing) than based on fear of ditching or fire.
 
Depends on the flying. If I'm instructing or flying the jet, slacks, shirt, nice shoes, and if it's cold out a sweater or sweater vest to go on top.

If I'm just flying for fun or off-duty usually a polo or t-shirt and shorts/jeans depending on the temperature. My philosophy is that you never know who you are going to meet or run in to so if you look presentable even when off doing your own thing that is probably not a bad idea.
 
bigblockz8 said:
4. Mr. Roach- Wears a Captain's uniform. He is a student pilot but likes to feel more professional while learning. May look odd but he is confident.
Click to expand...

A new "Tony Air" in the making. :rofl::rofl:

That's a red board joke.
 
in the glider, usually a long sleeve fly fishing shirt, lightweight pants, and a bucket hat.
 
I wear a black ski mask and a robe. Really gets the attention of TSA.
 
Personal: Commando, or something in a low rise mesh.

Professional: Unshined Walmart black loafers, skin tight high water black rayon slacks with a safety pin where the button used to be before its side loading factor was exceeded, wrinkled white shirt with sweat stained pits, gold captains epaulettes (like an Egyptian General wears), and a clip on black tie stained with burger sauce.

Both: NEVER fly without Kenny Loggins Danger Zone on an iPod. It lets you do things in an airplane the manufacturer never thought possible.

Oh yeah a couple more must haves, I never leave home (my bedroom actually) without the gold tint Rayban Aviators and a Breitling Super Avenger (Well the Chinese fake version anyway). If flying the back country all you need to add is the Rambo II survival knife.
 
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Pretty much the only thing I ever wear outside the house is jeans, a button down casual shirt, and multi-purpose boots.

On hot days during the summer you might find me in shorts and a t-shirt, but it's much rarer.
 
rottydaddy said:
Flying as an airline passenger, I dress for comfort, but not like a total slob.
Click to expand...

As an aiirline passenger, I generally dress "nicely" - business casual or better. I find that folks that are nicely dressed get treated much better by the airline staff than folks that are in t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops (there are exceptions: one woman was wearing a t-shirt with torn-off sleeves, giant arm-holes, and no undergarments was treated very well by male staff, and shunned by female airline staff. She "attracted" a lot of attention by male passengers, too).

When flying my plane, if I'm headed to a business meeting, I dress accordingly (usually business casual) or I change at the arrival FBO. Most of the time, I wear jeans and a shirt appropriate for the weather. When I was in Texas, I wore shorts and a t-shirt ("as little as possible") in summer, jeans in winter.
 
What did I wear on the way to the hangar? Depends on the weather, but in any case I'll have decent shoes, long pants and most likely a long sleeve shirt. I don't have any t-shirts with a pocket for pens. Around here I'll likely as not have a jacket (leather most of the time) as it's cold enough. Shorts and flip-flops? Not likely.

When traveling on the pressurized aluminum mailing tubes it's much the same. What is the weather like at the origin and destination? The jacket may be with me, or it may be in my checked bag. I know, that doesn't help if the plane makes an unplanned "landing" somewhere in between, but north of the Alutians I don't think it's going to matter much what I'm wearing. That water is COLD.
 
Always "dress for egress" !

If you're not convinced yet, this interesting survival story will probably do...

http://www.aopa.org/members/files/pilot/2012/march/f_missing.html

Flying bare foot or with flip flops is just a crazy thing to do....

Basically, if you don't "wear" your essential survival gear - there are good chances that it will "sink in the drink" or burn down with the aircraft ( lots of real stories can prove that point ).

Nomex coveralls do enhance safety but are extremely uncomfortable - especially in the summer...
Cotton, wool and leather are OK - wearing synthetic stuff in a cockpit ? ...No way Jose !

A small PLB, a compact beacon with lithium batteries, a reliable fire starting device, a survival sleeping bag and a knife will fit in cargo pockets and will make a huge difference if you survive a crash in the wilderness.
 
I dress for the weather/time of year, and also terrain. In the East, I just wear jeans and a polo shirt, and if its cold, a sweater. The jacket goes on the backseat, and will be anything from a light cotton jacket to heavy parka depending on temps.
 
Same thing I always wear, no matter what the occasion, flying, funerals, weddings, dates, getting coffee in the morning. Hula Shirt (I have a black one for weddings and funerals) 501 Levis, Rockport shoes. That is how I always dressed for work as well, even when I was in the corporate world. Back then, sometimes it was a T shirt instead of the Hula Shirt.

I don't like T shirts anymore because I have to suck my gut in when a cutie walks by.
I never tuck in my Hula shirts, so I am positive the cuties think I still have a six pack, even without sucking my gut in.

My shirts are not the garish kind of Hula shirts, I don't like the tourist look.

John
 
Ron Levy said:
And I never wear artificial materials next to my skin when flying -- you really don't want to see what happens to someone when that stuff melts in a flash fire.
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This.

Probably the most important consideration in what to wear while flying (at least flying anything powered). Whether I am flying myself, or riding an aluminum tube, the number one priority in apparel is keeping synthetic material to an absolute minimum. I don't wear Nomex that often, but I also really don't like wrapping my body in a 100% synthetic fleece jacket either.

One of the saddest things I have seen was a photo of Amanda Franklin on the cover of an aviation magazine after she passed away last year. The first thing that caught my eye was the Under Armour logo on her wing-walker suit. FWIW, while alot of ground troops in Iraq and Afghanistan were really digging them, Under Armour t-shirts were banned from shipboard use in the Navy because they are 100 percent synthetic and will melt to your body when exposed to fire. Seeing that photo of Amanda and knowing that she succumbed to serious post-crash burns, I couldn't help but think she might still be with us today if she wasn't wearing that suit.

And before somebody jumps on me, that wasn't a slam on Kyle or Amanda. I only point that out as food for thought for those who do choose to wear synthetics while flying.
 
Several years ago I started wearing Ibex wool clothes. Love them. They're warm but breathable at the same time, and don't smell. I'll never go back to synthetics. Most of Ibex's clothes are made in USA too.
 
bbchien said:
I dress to egress.

If it's cold, I'm wearing a down jacket. Chinos. Way up high (I've had cabin heat fink out, ski overpants stored in the wayback.
If it's spring, leather jacket.
If it's hot, a short sleeved shirt.

I laugh at the flight suited guys. I've BTDT and about the only reason to wear one is if you have a Martin-Baker pin and flag just below your left hand.....
Click to expand...

I dress for the crash too. Sometimes, but not always, that might mean a flight suit. Since I mostly fly a legacy Cessna with fuel lines running mere inches away and above my body, I recognize that wearing synthetic fabrics which would otherwise be excellent clothing to protect me from exposure but during "hot" situations could be described as "cloying", is not the best idea, I've settled on either spun nomex garments or the equivalent, or wool. The new gen casual wool (Icebreaker, etc.) is stylish and comfy even in the summer. My closet is full of the stuff.

My winter garb is topped by a surplus military winter flight suit. But it's cold here.

I don't care how hot it is - I'm not wearing shorts and no socks in an airplane. Ever.
 
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DavidWhite said:
Hope Lynn and Kim don't mind me posting their pictures, but here I am at October Gastons (On the right)

299326_10150340157879446_825954445_7964349_1508887854_n.jpg


6114670731_74e495e2a5_z.jpg


And 6Y9. It was like 40 degrees and rainy when they took that picture.
Click to expand...

I don't mind, I told you, they are yours. You can download them full size from my Flickr too.
 
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