Wearing Squadron or Demo Team Patches - Is it ethicial?

[Les Baldwin]

This issue is not restricted to aviation either. There are wannabees of all types. Those most often seen are US Navy Seal, Army Ranger / SF or USMC Force Recon / Sniper etc. The will tell anyone who listens
about their exploits hither and yon, but can't seem to remember their BUDS, Jump school, or other indentifiying indicator. The BS has gotten so bad that several
spec ops associations have formed groups to investigate those weenies that falsely make that claim.

As for unit patches, anyone can wear them, but the should be presentented in such a way that honors those units and shows off your collection. As far as wearing a flight suit EXACTLY like
a unit member and passing yourself off as a member, that is illegal - impersonating a member of the military.

But one area we have not opened up - what about re-enactors? When we get older some will want that ancient HUMVEE and dress accordingly....

Just food for thought.

[evangilder]

I wear a flight suit when doing air-to-air work in warbirds. It started when flying with Mark Matye, who insisted on having the proper safety gear, including a Nomex flight suit and gloves. It's not to 'look the part', but to keep you safer when things go wrong, which can happen when flying around in 50+ year old airplanes. The Nomex flight suit won't keep you from burning up in the event of a fire, but it can give you enough time to get out before you get too singed. Plus the lower pockets are very handy to hold bottled water and air sickness bags, canopy wipes and what have you.

I have been given patches and a callsign by pilots that I have flown with, and wear those on my flightsuit, but I will always let people know that I am just the photographer when asked.

[Paperpilot]

Well it helps that you have patches for one of the best planes ever flown...the T-28. 

And you're absolutely correct in that wearing a bag for in such planes is certainly a necessity. Safety first.

Doug

[Mickey]

But one area we have not opened up - what about re-enactors? When we get older some will want that ancient HUMVEE and dress accordingly....

Yes, we did, actually .

Another group that just came to mind is the reenactors.  They are up front, proud to be saying they are reenacting.

I agree with Gary, it's clear they're reenacting, so I don't think it's confusing to anyone. Uniforms will have changed as well by the time reenacting of a certain conflict starts, I guess.

I agree with the above on safety as well. Cockpit FOD must be avoided and fire-retardant clothing can prevent injury and/or safe lives. Apart from that, flight-suits, jackets, gloves and boots normally fit really good and are comfortable to wear. It's not necessary to wear them into a bar though.

[evangilder]

I agree that it's not necessary to wear them in a bar. Besides, if you have spent a few hours in a flight suit flying around in a warbird, you are ready to get out of it and get into something a little cooler. Nomex doesn't breathe all that well, and even the summer weight suits get warm fast.

And Doug, the T-28 rocks! 

[hotreds]

Hmmmm......

[BigRedDogATL]

Hmmmm......

{Mod edit; Please remove the pictures when quoting as explained in our FAQ.}

It must have been fun to sew all those patches onto that jacket.  My luck would be that if I did something like that and spent the time and effort to sew all my patches onto a jacket, the jacket would somehow manage to shrink in size and no longer fit.

[Paperpilot]

I have a strange problem where pants, shirts etc will shrink while hanging in the closet. I'm sure I'm not getting bigger...it must be the dry cleaners and closet makes out to make me look bad.

BTW I dig the jacket. Like I mentioned on another not-to-be-named board, no one will mistake you for an active, operational flyer but rather as a great aviation enthusiast. That's what air shows are all about.


cheers,
Doug

[hotreds]

I have a strange problem wear pants, shirts etc will shrink while hanging in the closet. I'm sure I'm not getting bigger...it must be the dry cleaners and closet makes out to make me look bad.
cheers,
Doug

Glad that I'm not the only one! I think it's a conspiracy of some kind from clothing makers!

[Scanor]

I don't mind people wearing sqadron or demo team patches. As I guess they have a reason for it. Just like me

I served with the Royal Norwegian AF  ,334th sqadron and that I feel gives me the right to wear that symbol even though I don't work there anymore. The sqadron has sinse been disbanded,but still I feel the pride of having served.

[b1lancer]

i think that if you mis represent yourself as a TBIRD, or a BLUE ANGEL etc. that is the only thing i could find wrong with this patch wearing thing. i know some things about navy squadrons, that other people might not know. If you try to tell me something that i know to be wrong, i wont say anything to you, i will just know you dont know what the heck you are talking about. if you are a phony and dont know what you are talking about, then you are a phony.
      and as soon as i get the proper jacket i am putting on my patches, miltary,police and fire.

[b1lancer]

Hmmmm......

[Mod edit, please remove the pictures when quoting]

that jacket ROCKS!!!! that is more than a few deployments NAVY STYLE!!!!! that is one bad ass collection of patches, wish i would of thought about that, when i was in the navy. nice picture!!!

[Erik]

I have been given patches and a callsign by pilots that I have flown with, and wear those on my flightsuit, but I will always let people know that I am just the photographer when asked.

The same here. After having done several air to air shoots, I purchased a well fitting nomex flight suit as well. Usually the hosting squadron can supply me with a fitting helmet & oxygen mask, parachute, life-line harness etc but flightsuits and boots are quite personal items in terms of size, comfort and hygiene.  For certain flights, wearing anything but a proper nomex suite, boots, gloves etc is an absolute no-no.

I don't collect patches (used to do so 15 years ago but gave up on it) but pilots often give me patches after the flight and these are quite special to me. For some projects, I sometimes spend quite some time with the squadron on base and sometimes they slap the patches onto the velcro of my flight suit - I never parade the patches around, although I highly appreciate the offer. But like you said - I'm just a civilian photographer, who happens to be very fortunate to be allowed to spend time and fly with a particular squadron.

But I will never wear the flightsuit (with or without patches) to airshows or any time on base except for when flying.  On rare occassions, I have been asked to wear the suit while being with the squadron , just to avoid being hassled by security a lot. So on certain visits in Italy and South America, I would just wear the suit throughout the day. Feeling a litlte odd though!!

[joel love]

Maybe I'm missing something here, but I can't see any reason why a photographer or spectator at an airshow would wear a flight suit. I have seen people who have multiple patches on a jacket, vest or other garment. This is fine, it just shows that you are a fan of, or supporter of that unit. A flight suit serves no real or practical purpose. If you were given or purchased one as a souvenir and have it in a collection at home I don't see a problem. Wearing it to an event is a problem. It really is not a long jump from being a fan to impersonator.

joel

[JT]

If it were an issue of ethics inside the squadrons and units I dont think they would be selling them at shows. I for one think that they are cool and for those who know me know that I wear some on my vest (15 to 20) its way too heavy but its just my thing just for looks and even get some comments from people that have been in that unit or squadron which makes for some good conversation and stories which I enjoy hearing. Just my 2 cents