Unfreakingbelievable

[Captn]

Maybe he has a medical problem that requires he be in full uniform when in public...

 

[Flying Freddie]

drunk redneck.

Isn't that a bit redundant?

 

[AA717driver]

Kind of on subject...

I was in ops in JFK a few years ago at 0430. This guy comes in, a captain I'd seen around but didn't pay much attention to him, he's about my age and he's wearing sunglasses(yes, the huge aviator Ray-bans).

So, I'm about to ask him if he's kidding or just REALLY hung over. Then, I get the idea he's serious. He keeps the glasses on 'till he leaves. I've seen him in the terminal over the years and he still has his glasses on... He's the type that walks really stiff like he's got a rod up his ass.

What a dipsh**!TC

 

[Tripower455]

I've driven that route several times. I gave up on the "shortcut" and now just take I-4 and I-75. It's a bit longer but it turns out to be just a little quicker and definitely more hassle-free. Who wants to blow down 27 or 17 at 1am anyway? Probably hit a gator or a drunk redneck.

I do it every week, and have come to the conclusion that I'd rather deal with the drunks, wildlife and barney fifes, than to drive an extra 52 miles on the interstate in FL! (it's about 20 minutes longer on the interstate........when there's no traffic). I average about 2:50-2:55 at night on the back roads, and the best I've done the interstate is about 3:10 (usually longer, because you can't keep the speed up, plus the construction). I attempt (!) to go 10 over on the interstates, do the limit in the towns, and 10 over between the towns on 17, and 15-20 over on 31 (nothing but cow pastures and orange groves for 40 miles of arrow striaght, lightly patrolled road).

The aggravation level of having to slow to well below the limit every 30 seconds because folks don't understand the basic rules of the road (keep right except to PASS), the constant construction traffic and nasty State Troopers make the drunks, gators and local cops a welcome sight! It's next to impossible to even use the cruise control on the interstates here, because if you set it AT the limit, you will be disengaging as soon as there are 2 cars in front of you, since they will likely be next to each other, pacing below the limit. Even at 0200! I rarely have to disengage the cruise because of slower traffic on the back roads, and passing them is actually an option!

FWIW, I take I-4 from 417 to CR 557 (no better choice), where I pick up SR 17, which I take until just north of Arcadia, where I head over to SR 31, which ends in N. Ft. Myers, where I get on I-75 (again, no choice). By far, the most aggravating parts of the drive, regardless of the hour, are the first half hour, and the last half hour! 27 sucks, btw. The same issues as the interstate, and lots of cops. Once you leave Winter Haven, 17 is easy. 31 is even better!

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

BIGBROWNDC8

I couldn't agree more. I have never gone clothes shopping or to baseball or football games in my uniform, but if I stop at the store on my way to work, I sure dont give a f@ck what anyone would possibly think. I cant believe anyone would be so insecure that they would take off their epaulets to appease the 7-11 clerk.

I at the time just wear my CFI uniform....Yep, well put.

 

[PonchoMan]

SWA FO and MLBWING,

Im kind of surprised to see you guys on the side of the wear the uniform, ID et al.... to the mall. I see alot of SWA guys wearing nothing but the white shirt and pants strolling through the airport. Im guessing they are non-reving or just waiting till the last minute. Either way its all the same I guess.

Again alot of people are compairing apples and oranges and I guess its my fault for not communicating thoroughly, if your one of the guys wearing a uniform to the mall, man oh man, if you saw this guy tooling around you'd probably be singing another tune,but I think you guys get the jest of it. Point being...... ahhh who cares about making a point.... just a funny story to me.... all you guys that go to malls and movies and whatever else in full pilot dress.... .by all means GIDDY UP..... I hope I get a chance to see ya out at the mall.... it'll put a smile on my face, just promise that you'll wear the hat too.

Hope everybody had a good turkey day......

Your kind of surprised? With the majority of short man syndrome coupled with huge egos in this industry nothing surpsises me.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Style Points

When I was furloughed, I continued to wear the uniform to:

1. The mall--I sat on Santa's lap, hoping to get a job with FL--it worked!
2. Movie theaters
3. Kids football games


Next time you see someone at a Steelers Game wearing an old US Airways F/O uniform, it's probably me!!

 

[radiofly er]

Personally I just can't wait to take all the costume off, before i even get to the car, the tie, yellow bars I.D. are off. I love to fly but there are limits.

 

[Hagar17]

A captain I flew with told me a story about a captain he flew with when he was an FO that carried a picture album containing a pictures of himself in front of his big house in his uniform and hat.

He had another picture of himself in a Corvette in his uniform and hat, his four stripes conspicuously showing as he leaned out the window. Another picture had him in his Piper Cub in, you guessed it, his uniform and hat.

He owned a restaurant in Wisconsin called "The Captain's Table" that had a six-foot cardboard cut-out of himself in the lobby in, yep, full uniform, with a caption saying "Welcome Aboard!"

There's no purpose to this story, other than to illustrate what a dork this guy was.

Bottom line, if you wear your uniform to the mall, you're a dork. Buy a $20 fleece pullover, or a $10 polo.

Hag

 

[AlbieF15]

Actually, the coolest guys are the ones who roll into town, quickly yank off the monkey suit and throw on the AF/NAVY/USMC/Army flight suit, then head into their ANG/AFRES/NRES/National Guard unit for beer with the boys at roll call.

A little BFM or DACT prior to the bar call makes a great day a world class day. (Air to ground types can insert "or range ride" here)

By the way...I love to tell folks when I got out of active duty I got hired by FedEx, JetBlue, and the Air National Guard. What is the common thread?

Hats are optional at each one!

 

[enigma]

A few of you wrote that we should be proud enough of our career to wear the uniform, or you wrote that to ditch the shoulder boards, etc, showed shame in our job. I would quote so as to get the correct wording, but after two pages of reading a bunch of "who can pee the furtherest" posts I don't have the patience to find the exact quotes.

To those who think that getting the boards, ID, wings, and tie off before one mingles with the general public in an off airport setting shows shame for our job; I must disagree. I'm not ashamed of being a pilot and I don't know any pilot who is ashamed of his job. I don't wear my uniform in public for the same reason I don't wear my speedo to the mall, and the reason has nothing to do with shame, quite simply I just don't like to draw attention. I do wear full uniform to work. If I am in the public view representing my employer and fellow employees, I wear it all. I never wear the tie over an unbuttoned collar. I polish my shoes. I regularly send my hat and coat to the cleaners.

If one were truly ashamed of the job, he would hide the uniform while at work. I do know of a couple of pilots who manage to remain incognito for most of the year by constantly wearing a lightweight trenchcoat and no hat. I know pilots who never wear their hats, etc. There are numerous ways to show shame for your profession, ditching the shoulder boards before you buy groceries is not one of them.

regards,
enigma

 

[VADriver]

in front of his big house
in a Corvette
in his Piper Cub
He owned a restaurant in Wisconsin

what a dork this guy was.

Bottom line, if you wear your uniform to the mall, you're a dork. Buy a $20 fleece pullover, or a $10 polo.

Hag

I wish I had a gimmick that allowed me to have my own business (translation, I fly jets cause I want to, not cause I need to), a Cub, a corvette and a big house.

Maybe this guy wasn't a dork, but proud that he created something for himself and his family. If my customers want to me to show up at my restaraunt in a airline hat, I'll do it, to put food on my table, a corvette in my garage and a Cub at the 'port....

Naw...what am I thinking...he must be a dork..I can't see it any other way....

The message boards...it is LORD of the FLIES baby!!!

 

[Hagar17]

VADriver:

You should work for the Washington Post with the way you diced up my post and made it sound like I said this captain was a dork because he had all these pictures of his toys and how he should be proud for making a good living for his family.

I was just adding to a thread about wearing your airline uniform to places like the mall. I thought it would be funny to tell a story about a guy that carries around pictures of HIMSELF (note: with no family to speak of, in the pictures anyway) in various poses, wearing his full uniform.

Sure, I'd love to have a big house, Corvette, and an airplane. I'm sure this guy was proud. Who wouldn't? I was just adding to the fun, man.

Chill out.

Hag (why do I waste my time on this board?)

 

[VADriver]

VADriver:

You should work for the Washington Post with the way you diced up my post and made it sound like I said this captain was a dork because he had all these pictures of his toys and how he should be proud for making a good living for his family.

I was just adding to a thread about wearing your airline uniform to places like the mall. I thought it would be funny to tell a story about a guy that carries around pictures of HIMSELF (note: with no family to speak of, in the pictures anyway) in various poses, wearing his full uniform.

Sure, I'd love to have a big house, Corvette, and an airplane. I'm sure this guy was proud. Who wouldn't? I was just adding to the fun, man.

Chill out.

Hag (why do I waste my time on this board?)

That is the whole point Hag...get it?

What you think is dorky, arrogant or weird...necessarily isn't... Did you say something to Mr Captains Table? What about Mr "Uniform in the Mall" was something said to him by the original thread poster? maybe..probably not.....

But yet you find it appropriate to throw the guy under the bus on the 'net....looking for others to validate your position...

I think that says more about you than dorky pilots driving Corvettes to the mall in thier uniform...

 

[House_X]

You guy's still talking about this uniform $#it...let's talk about girls or football...or something....jeeeeeeeze...

 

[Capn Mike]

I can't believe I just wasted 20 minutes reading this entire thread.

Now back to lurking,

Mike

 

[badog]

weirdos

In HNL or where ever, we always took off the eps and wings and stuff no need to look like a freaking idiot all day long. Yes, I'm proud of what I do but PLEASE take it easy on my brain I don't want to see that outside the airport. If I stop to pump gas I take the crap off.

BD

 

[Steeler Fan]

I'm not alone

Just saw the Army/Navy game...All those uniforms...

Wish I could have been there...in my old US Airways uniform...that would have been cool.

 

[thesource]

You want ego? Does anyon get sick of seeing John Travolta wearing the whole uniform including 4 stripes.

Oh yeh, and saluting everyone every time he gets off an airplane.

I guess when you'r rich and an actor you can pretend to be anything you want but I get offended by his mocking my chosen profession!

 

[flyhi92]

Originally posted by AlbieF15

By the way...I love to tell folks when I got out of active duty I got hired by FedEx, JetBlue, and the Air National Guard. What is the common thread?

ok,,ok,ok.....I give up (or did I miss the answer?)........what's the common thread?