Where did the tradition of cutting the shirt came from?

FloridaPilot

FloridaPilot

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Alight all of you airplane history buffs! When I soloed my CFI cut off the back of my shirt and signed it with a drawing of the airplane I soloed in. Where did that "Tradition" come from?
 
Navy according to my CFI. Forget why but something about tugging on their shirt when they mess up and no longer have to
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_solo_flight said:
In American aviation lore, the traditional removal of a new pilot's shirt tail is a sign of the instructor's new confidence in his student after successful completion of the first solo flight. In the days of tandem trainers, the student sat in the front seat, with the instructor behind. As there were often no radios in these early days of aviation, the instructor would tug on the student pilot's shirttail to get his attention, and then yell in his ear. A successful first solo flight is an indication that the student can fly without the instructor ("instructor-less" flight). Hence, there is no longer a need for the shirt tail, and it is cut off by the (often) proud instructor, and sometimes displayed as a trophy.[/QUOTE]
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In the early days of flying, folks learned to fly in a tandem airplane. The student sat in front, with the instructor behind him "sitting on his shirt tail." When the student solo'd the instructor no longer had to sit on his shirt tail, so he cut it off.
 
Back in the day, CFIs made so little money, that they would cut parts of students shirts off (after all if they could afford to pay for lessons, they could afford to give up a part of their shirt), sew the parts together and make shirts for themselves (with epaulets).
I don't know why they still do it. CFIs make so much money today they should be buying shirts for students who are going broke paying for lessons.
 
Learning to fly costs so much it "takes the shirt off your back".
 
In the days of tandem trainers, the student sat in the front seat, with the instructor behind. As there were often no radios in these tandem trainers, the instructor would tug on the student pilot's shirttail to get his attention, and then yell in his ear. Hence, after first solo there is no longer a need for the shirt tail, and it is cut off by the instructor.

Some airfields where training schools operate have a wall full of student's shirtails.
 
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Shepherd said:
Back in the day, CFIs made so little money, that they would cut parts of students shirts off (after all if they could afford to pay for lessons, they could afford to give up a part of their shirt), sew the parts together and make shirts for themselves (with epaulets).
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Sounds like the best explanation to me. :)
 
Yup, had my shirt tail cut off and CFI drew a picture of the 172 with tail number and date with a sharpie. Wife mounted it in a frame with the picture of the CFI and myself standing next to the plane after solo.


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Back in the day, one student pilot left his log book behind on the day his instructor decided to solo him. With no logbook to record the event, the instructor took the shirt off the student's back and logged the solo flight. Tacked it to the wall, then stuffed it into the student's logbook when it appeared later.
 
Shepherd said:
Back in the day, CFIs made so little money, that they would cut parts of students shirts off (after all if they could afford to pay for lessons, they could afford to give up a part of their shirt), sew the parts together and make shirts for themselves (with epaulets).
I don't know why they still do it. CFIs make so much money today they should be buying shirts for students who are going broke paying for lessons.
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That's hysterical!!!
 
After my first solo (which I didn't know was gonna happen that day), I argued with my CFI over cutting my shirt because I was wearing one of my favorites. I was wearing a plain white T-shirt underneath, so I finally convinced him to cut that one instead. The SOB was coming at me with the scissors, I was backing away - hell no, cut my plain white T-shirt, but not this one!
 
mulligan said:
My CFI didn't cut my shirt. He brought me to a bar and bought me drinks. I like that tradition better
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Mine brought me to the bar first, then signed the book. Said it was the only way he felt comfortable letting me go.
 
Shepherd said:
Back in the day, CFIs made so little money, that they would cut parts of students shirts off (after all if they could afford to pay for lessons, they could afford to give up a part of their shirt), sew the parts together and make shirts for themselves (with epaulets).
I don't know why they still do it. CFIs make so much money today they should be buying shirts for students who are going broke paying for lessons.
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:rofl::rofl::rofl:
 
Unit74 said:
Mine brought me to the bar first, then signed the book. Said it was the only way he felt comfortable letting me go.
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Mine took me to the bar right before the solo. :oops:

Lol

I didn't get my shirt cut either. Eh, it's ok. I don't think that happens often at our flight school. Probably because someone "complained" .... sad how our society can be sometimes.
 
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